18 Jul Jared Gray: Paleoclimatology, Final Week

JHU-L2 LOI and Charcoal data next to the sediment core

This week was the last week of my time working at the University of Arizona and in Tucson, and I finished all the charcoal samples for the sediment core (JHU-L2), and started doing LOI for JOG-1A, a new sediment core.

On my last work day, Thursday, I graphed all the data I had gathered from JHU-L2 alongside a picture of the core for comparison. Its a nice picture that sums up most of my work since I got here about a month ago. Garrison also taught me how to go from first phase grain-size into second phase grain-size, which is done by spinning 36 vials inside of a centrifuge that spins at at 4800 rpm.

The centrifuge

After spinning it at this speed for eight minutes, I was able to dump out all the water without any grains being lost (all the grains were stuck to the bottom), and then I filled each vial with 6 to 7 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide. In order to get the reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and the organic matter in the grain-size sample, I vortex-ed the vials using a machine which would shake my hand and the vial very violently and quickly.

I will most definitely be doing internships in college, and this internship has helped me narrow down what I will be focusing on during college and graduate school. Overall, this opportunity was a very worth-while experience, and I learned a lot while at it.

Thank you to my coworkers, host family, my family, and everyone at Pinhead for making this happen.