Portrait of Syvia Englund Michel
Assistant Laboratory Manager, SIL •
• Stable isotope mass spectrometry
sylvia.michel@colorado.edu
303 735-5850

Pronouns: she/her

Stable Isotope Lab

Bio

Technical expert in stable isotope mass spectrometry, including dual inlet and continuous flow techniques. Proficient with IDL coding language for data processing and management.

I lead the SIL team that measures stable isotopes of carbon dioxide and methane from NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. In addition to running, maintaining, and troubleshooting a fleet of isotope ratio mass spectrometers, I am also responsible for quality control, calibrations, and uncertainty quantification of these samples. I work with international colleagues to establish and maintain good metrological practice for stable isotope measurements of greenhouse gases. Ultimately, our measurements are useful for understanding sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and methane.

Education

  • MS: University of Utah, 2004
  • BA: Williams College, 1999

 

News

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

Feb. 18, 2022

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%.

Researcher works in a stable isotope lab that contains lots of blue and beige gas flasks
New analysis shows microbial sources fueling rise of atmospheric methane (NOAA Research News)

June 17, 2021

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.

Cows in a muddy field
A mysterious rise in methane levels is sparking global warming fears (New Scientist)

May 21, 2021

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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