LABORATORI NAZIONALI DEL GRAN SASSO
One of the largest research group in the Institute of Nuclear Research is the Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies (HLES), a multidisciplinary team dedicated to research in nuclear analytical methods, environmental isotope research. In operation for more than 20 years it has established a national and international reputation as a premier analytical laboratory, which has considerable expertise in mass spectrometry, radiocarbon dating, low-level gamma and beta counting techniques, and environmental physics. The main fields of the research activity in the HLES are the follows: isotope geochemistry of speleothems; revealing fossil and biogenic components in the atmospheric carbon budget; radiocarbon chronologies of ancient settlements; reconstruction of environmental changes in the Carpathian basin – vegetation history, sedimentation rates by radiocarbon dating and stable isotope signatures (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C); studying recharge rates using 3H/3He dating of recent groundwaters; determination of recharge temperatures of groundwater by dissolved noble gases and stable isotopes (δ18O, δ 2H); stable isotope geochemistry of natural gas reservoirs; isotope hydrogeology and isotope hydrology – vulnerability of aquifers; the origin of dissolved nitrate, ammonium and sulphate in surface water and drinking water; infiltration, mixing and residence time in karst aquifers; present climate change – monitoring of δ18O, δ2H values and tritium concentration in precipitation; trend of ice formation rates in ice caves (δ18O, δ2H, tritium); monitoring of radioactive pollution in air and groundwater around nuclear facilities; quality control for the safe management and disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive waste (gas formation, concentration of “difficult-to-measure” isotopes in L/IL radioactive waste packages). Additionally to the research activities of the HLES, other groups works in multidisciplinary science as well: aerosol geochemistry in the Ion Beam Physics Group; Radon Group; K/Ar-Ar/Ar Geochronology of igneous and volcanic rocks and minerals; etc. The presentation will give an overview about what topics could be studied in a joint cooperation between LNGS and HLES. ---------------------------------- László Palcsu Institute for Nuclear Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences

DATA: 03-11-2015