Collecting samples for cosmogenic surface exposure dating

Dr Shaun Eaves and Dr Jamey Stutz collect rock samples at Byrd Glacier.

The yellow GPS device in the foreground records the precise location of samples – for example, latitude, longitude and elevation above sea level. Elevation is a key observation for the method as cosmogenic nuclide production rates increase with height (roughly 2 times for every 1 km).

Photo by Steve Grimes.