FACILITIES

 

EVEX facilities combine extensive field equipment for environmental monitoring and sampling, along with a well-equipped Geomorphology, Sedimentology and Quaternary laboratory for sediment core and sample and sediment core processing activities. Computing equipment supports sample digitization, image analysis and data processing. Together with related laboratory facilities in the Department of Geography and on Queen’s Campus, facilities for diverse research activities.

 

The main laboratory equipment includes:

-Coulter LS200 laser scattering particle size analyser with auto loader
-Bartington MSE2 high resolution magnetic susceptibility sensor and automated measuring stage
-Muffle furnace and drying oven
-Several weigh stations
-Two fumehoods equipped for pollen and general sample processing
-High speed centrifuge
-Dedicated refrigerated core and sample storage in lab and in building
-Freezer space

 

Additionally, the microscopy and electronic lab contains:

-Velmex precision measuring stage for sediment and tree ring measurements
-Nikon microscopes for high and low power work
-A Polaroid microscope video display and digital image capture system
-Nikon and HP sllide and flatbed scanners linked to a variety of computers
-Light table

-A sensor prototyping workshop
-A coffee machine(!)

 

A sedimentary thin section preparation facility contains:

-Freeze drying apparatus
-Dedicated fume hood for resin work
-Cutting saw and grinding wheel
-Equipment for vacuum embedding

 

Field equipment includes:

-Zodiac and aluminum boats equipped with various motors
-Sequoia LSST-100 CTD with particle size capability for lake and marine research
-Four RBR XR-420 CTD units for freshwater and marine environments, most equipped with additional turbidity and dissolved oxygen sensors
-Water chemistry meters (pH, EC, temperature, DO)
-Various sediment coring systems (conventional and submersible vibracoring, piston-percussion, Livingstone, gravity)

-Instruments and nearly 100 data loggers for hydrometeorological and sediment transfer studies, many of which are deployed at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory (CBAWO) including:

-Weather stations
-River gauging stations (stage, temperature, current velocity, turbidity)
-Soil temperature and moisture
-Lake monitoring (submersible temperature, sediment flux, bottom currents)
-Suspended sediment sampling equipment
-ISCO pump samplers
-Vacuum and pressure filtration equipment for sediment and particulates