$241K NSF grant helps experts bring cutting-edge water research instrument to GVSU

The potential uses for this instrument are as varied as the disciplines. The measurements from the device will help indicate the chemical fingerprint for water, "and also where it's from and what it's experienced," Winkelstern said.

Water from a lake, groundwater, evaporated water, a stream and more all have different stories that this device will help researchers learn. Which water masses are mixing? Is there nitrate contamination? Is the rainwater on collected on campus recycled from Lake Michigan or did it come from a weather system that moved through? What have been the effects of climate change?

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For Cooper, who studies wetland ecology and Great Lakes ecology, one of the important things he measures is an ecosystem's metabolism, which is generated by the presence of life such as algae and invertebrates.

"We use metabolism to identify wetlands that are out of balance because of nutrient inputs," said Cooper, who is a researcher on a long-term project called the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program.

Understanding the metabolism gives a holistic view of the system, but measuring the metabolism is difficult, Cooper said. His goal is to use the measured water isotopes as estimates for the metabolism.

He said using the analyzer is a straightforward process, which will be a benefit for the undergraduate students as they can be quickly trained to use it as he collaborates with them on research.