Michel

Microbes, not fossil fuels, drove methane growth between 2020–22 (CU �鶹ӰԺ Today)

David J Lubinski — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:29:54 +0000

Microbes, not fossil fuels, drove methane growth between 2020–22 (CU �鶹ӰԺ Today) David J Lubinski Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:29

A new analysis from INSTAAR's Sylvia Michel, Jianghanyang (Ben) Li, and collaborators investigates the root cause of a recent atmospheric methane spike. While their finding suggests microbes have been emitting more methane than fossil fuels in recent years, reducing fossil fuel consumption remains key to addressing climate change.

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Sylvia Michel receives INSTAAR’s first Outstanding PRA Award

Anonymous — Wed, 24 May 2023 22:40:37 +0000

Sylvia Michel receives INSTAAR’s first Outstanding PRA Award Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/24/2023 - 16:40

Bruce Vaughn presents Sylvia Michel with the Outstanding PRA Award.

INSTAAR is pleased to announce that Sylvia Michel is the first recipient of its Outstanding PRA Award. This new award recognizes a professional research assistant (PRA) who has demonstrated excellence in their role and within the larger communities of INSTAAR and the University.

“It is really an honor to receive this award—because the PRA community is such a stellar group!” said Michel. “These are the folks that power INSTAAR as a research engine. They have amazing technical skills, and so much experience, and as a community we really help each other. I’d really like to see all PRAs get proper recognition for their commitment to our scientific mission.”

Michel leads the team within the Stable Isotope Lab that measures stable isotopes of carbon dioxide and methane in air samples from the NOAA Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. She ensures the quality of the measurements as well as running and maintaining the instruments needed to take the samples. These measurements are vital for our understanding of sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, which is needed to understand our changing climate.

John Ortega, also a PRA in the Stable Isotope Lab, says of Michel, “She is a critical link between us and our NOAA partners and the “go to” person for all our outreach activities. The equipment that we use requires technical knowledge and expertise of high vacuum operations, mass spectrometer maintenance, thermal cycling and computerized instrument control. She is truly the master of the lab and the critical consistent 30+ year global record of CO₂ and CH₄ isotopes has remained successful in large part due to her efforts. In addition to her work ethic and scientific skills, she’s a pleasant person to work with—always looking to maintain professionalism of the lab while being sensitive and accommodating to peoples’ individual styles.”

Michel is also a community builder. She organized the professional research assistants at INSTAAR into a group that relies on each other for information sharing, professional support, and advocacy. With leadership from Michel and others, the group has also organized annual blood drives, food drives, and collections of warm clothing and other necessities for people in need in �鶹ӰԺ.

PRA Leanne Lestak said, “Sylvia is plugged into the inner workings of PRAs here at INSTAAR. She is approachable, shares her knowledge readily, and asks deep questions, all in the context of supporting the greater good for all PRAs here at INSTAAR and even university-wide.”

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Art and Science Connections Collider event with Dairy Arts Center

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Art and Science Connections Collider event with Dairy Arts Center Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/10/2023 - 00:00

INSTAAR and the Dairy Arts Center collaborated on our second Art and Science Connections Collider on April 10th 2023 during �鶹ӰԺ Arts Week. The event began with a tour of INSTAAR’s Stable Isotope Lab (SIL) that included a look at actual ice cores from Antarctica and Greenland and a demonstration of how we analyze greenhouse gases in atmospheric samples. After the tour, the group had a general discussion in the Bartlett Science Communication Center.

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London produces a third more methane than estimates suggest (Imperial College London)

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

London produces a third more methane than estimates suggest (Imperial College London) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 02/18/2022 - 00:00

Researchers from Imperial College London have performed new measurements using data from INSTAAR's Stable Isotope Lab (Sylvia Englund Michel). They found London produces 30-35% more methane than previously thought. Previous estimates suggested 25% of London's methane is from natural gas leaks, but the new study says it's up to 85%.

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New analysis shows microbial sources fueling rise of atmospheric methane (NOAA Research News)

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

New analysis shows microbial sources fueling rise of atmospheric methane (NOAA Research News) Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/17/2021 - 00:00

The sudden and sustained rise in atmospheric levels of the potent greenhouse gas methane since 2007 has posed one of the most significant and pressing questions in climate research: Where is it coming from? Now a research team has tested the leading theories for surging methane levels by analyzing the stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C-CH4) from methane captured in a large set of global air samples to determine if one of the theories is more feasible than the others.

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A mysterious rise in methane levels is sparking global warming fears (New Scientist)

Anonymous — Fri, 21 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

A mysterious rise in methane levels is sparking global warming fears (New Scientist) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/21/2021 - 00:00

In INSTAAR's Stable Isotope Lab lie rows of metal flasks holding clues to the cause of an alarming rise in a powerful greenhouse gas. They contain samples of air from around the world that Sylvia Michel‘s team of methane detectives analyse to reveal whether the gas came from burning fossil fuels and wood, or from wetlands and cow guts. Note that a subscription is required to read this article.

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