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Mary Beth Day '07
Mary Beth Day '07

Mary Beth Day '07 (Seneca Falls, N.Y.) has a new pet. It is called the Dirt Burner, and it burns dirt. Old dirt, though, since Day is researching a new technique for sediment dating. Advised by Eugene Domack, professor of geosciences, Day hopes to "improve the accuracy of radiocarbon ages for Antarctic marine sediments using a programmable temperature combustion system."

As she explains, "radiocarbon dating is frequently used to obtain ages of Antarctic marine sediments." The problem is that many times the datable material is organic matter which gives inaccurate readings (dates are often much older than they should be). Scientists suspect that these incorrect dates are the result of older fragments worked into the sediment record. Correct dates are more than a matter of scientific interest; Day explains that "a thorough understanding of the extent and timing of the advance and retreat of the Antarctic Ice Sheet is essential to grasp its role in global climate."

The Dirt Burner's official name is the Temperature Combustion System. It burns sediments at a range of temperatures and produces carbon dioxide as a product of the reaction. The gas can be trapped at any temperature, although it appears that the carbon dioxide produced at lower temperatures yields accurate radiocarbon ages (whereas the high-temperature ages tend to be too old). The carbon dioxide produced from the runs is then submitted for radiocarbon dating.

Day is testing this system on samples from the Ross Sea and the Larsen Ice Shelf in the Antarctic, two sites where regular radiocarbon dating is particularly problematic. She hopes that this technique will be applied to "other areas faced with similar problems relating to the reworking of sediments." Though she feels somewhat behind the schedule devised at the beginning of the summer, "the improvements that have been made on the system I use are significant and hopefully worth the delay."

To do her research, Day is spending two months at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometer facility in Woods Hole, Mass. She is enjoying herself in what she describes as "a great community of young scientists and students. It's great fun to be surrounded by so many people with similar interests."

Day is no stranger to summer research; in the past she has done work in computational chemistry and geosciences. She will, however, be continuing this summer's research and using it as the topic for her senior thesis. "The potential application of this technique to archaeological contexts makes this topic appropriate for me as a geoarchaeology major," she explains. Day also plans to give a talk at the annual autumn meeting of the Geological Society of America, as well as publishing her results from this summer's work.

On campus, the rising senior is involved in numerous activities. She is a TA for geology and archaeology classes as well as a member of the Geology Club. She is on the Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Board, and plays in the orchestra. After Hamilton she plans to go to graduate school for a Ph.D. in geology.

- Lisbeth Redfield

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