अंतरिक्ष विभाग (Department of Space) | भारत सरकार (Government of India)
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Geosciences Division Labs

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory
Used to measure Radioisotopes like C-14, Al-26, Be-10.
Multiple Applications in fields like:
• Glaciology
• Planetary Sciences
• Archeology
• Paleoclimatology
• Oceanography
• Hydrology other areas involving the applications of Radioisotopes


First Results of the AMS published as lead article in the Current Science Journal(Feb, 2019)



Graphitisaition Laboratory
This facility is used to prepare high-purity graphite samples for Radiocarbon measurements in the AMS. Can handle both organic samples (EA) and inorganic samples (CHS)

The Automated Graphitization Equipment is coupled with two devices. 


1. Carbonate Handling System (for inorganic samples)

2. Elemental Analyser (for organic samples)





IRMS- Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer Laboratory
This facility is used to measure stable isotopes of elements like Carbon, Sulphur, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen. Applications include Geochemistry, Paleoclimatology, Oceanography, Hydrology, etc.

The Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer is coupled with two systems


1. Flash CN Analyser (for measuring C,N,S,H) in samples like sediments and other organic samples

2. Gas Bench for measurement of statble isotope ratios in carbonate and water samples. 







Aerosol Chemistry Laboratory
We study aerosol chemistry and characteristics through campaign-mode offline and online measurements over different regions of India and surrounding oceans.

Atmospheric aerosols affect atmospheric chemistry, air quality, aquatic biogeochemistry, climate, and human health. Atmospheric processes can modify the size, surface properties, and optical properties of aerosols. Studying aerosols composition is inevitable to understand their sources, processes, and also in assessing any of the aerosol effects.


  • High Resolution - Time of Flight - Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS)
  • Particle-into-Liquid Sampler (PILS)
  • Portable UV-Visible Spectrometer with liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC)
  • Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzer
  • Ambient Ion Monitor coupled to Ion Chromatography (AIM-IC)
  • Aethalometer
  • High and low volume Air Samplers
  • Ion Chromatograph (IC)
  • Thermo-Optical EC-OC Analyzer
  • Quadruple Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (Q-ICP-MS)
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometers (ICP-AES)
  • Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS)
  • Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS)

We pioneered and leading many new research topics in the field of atmospheric science in India, as visible under the publication lists of people working in this field, e.g.,

  • We initiated and established the study on ‘Aerosol Oxidative Potential’ in India
  • We did unique measurements of brown carbon to understand the sources and processes affecting their abundances and characteristics
  • We did multi-isotope (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) investigation of aerosols provides newer insights into complex aerosol chemistry
  • We studied the composition of aerosols from  Upper Troposphere Lower Stratosphere (UTLS) region through balloon-borne measurements

Experimental skills are the uniqueness of this group. We assembled a system (PILS-LWCC-TOC) for Brown Carbon measurements. We established the study on ‘Aerosol Oxidative Potential’ in India.
Sorter Flow cytometer Laboratory
This facility is used to analyze marine microbial phytoplankton and bacterial cells.

Sorter Flow cytometer is a Fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique that provides a method for sorting a heterogeneous mixture of microbial cells into four containers, one cell at a time, based upon the specific light scattering and fluorescent characteristics of each cell.



We analyzed the sea water samples of Northern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal). Mainly targeted organisms are Picophytoplankton group which are Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and Picoeukaryotes. Also, we can focus on nanoplankton, microplakton and heterotrophic bacteria.