Gamma detectors at the St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center

Radioactive isotopes are common in nature and emit particles that can be detected, quantified, and used to characterize environmental processes. The SPCMSC alpha and gamma spectroscopy labs utilize anthropogenic and naturally-occurring radionuclides in estuarine, wetland, lacustrine sediments to determine spatial and temporal sediment deposition, facilitate palaeoecological reconstruction, sediment transport dynamics, and sediment source fingerprinting studies.