The mission of SEES (Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science) is to advance research and education in synchrotron-based Earth and environmental science to better understand our planet from the atmosphere to the core, to address societally relevant problems, and to train the next generation of scientists. SEES is responsible for the management, operation, and development of multiple user facilities hosted at four DOE-operated US synchrotrons: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Advanced Light Source (ALS), National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
Facility Status and Upcoming Proposal Deadlines
Events Calendar
Recent Publications
Zhao, Bin, Takashi Yoshino, Qi Chen, Tony Yu, Dongzhou Zhang, Bin Chen, and Yanbin Wang. “Electrical conductivity of amorphous and molten CaCO3 at high pressures and its implications for mantle conductivity anomalies.” Geophysical Research Letters 53, no. 5 (2026): e2025GL119568. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL119568
Mondal S, Chow S, Cassidy M (2026;), “Microstructural imaging of simple shear deformation through synchrotron tomography”. Geotechnique Letters, Vol. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.25.00027
Zurkowski, Claire C., Jing Yang, Stella Chariton, Vitali Prakapenka, and Yingwei Fei. “High pressure formation of the eight‐fold coordinated post‐post spinel MgFe2O4.” Geophysical Research Letters 53, no. 3 (2026): e2025GL120161.
Chung, Dong Youn, Juliane Weber, Lawrence M. Anovitz, Barbara R. Evans, Ke Yuan, Sai Adapa, Matthew G. Boebinger et al. “The Effects of Iron and Manganese Doping on the Carbonation of Brucite [Mg (OH) 2].” The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2026).
Xu, Man, Zhicheng Jing, James A. Van Orman, Qingyang Hu, Qi Chen, Tony Yu, and Yanbin Wang. “Density of sodium aluminosilicate melts along the NaAlSiO4‐NaAlSi3O8 join at high pressure: In‐situ measurements and re‐calibration of a modified hard‐sphere equation of state for silicate melts.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 131,
Li, Luo, Takayuki Ishii, Young Jay Ryu, Dongzhou Zhang, Stella Chariton, Vitali B. Prakapenka, and Jung‐Fu Lin. “Sound velocities of FeO‐bearing ringwoodite and majorite: Implication for Martian mantle seismic profiles.” Geophysical Research Letters 53, no. 3 (2026): e2025GL118991.
Science Highlights
Electrical Conductivity of Amorphous and Molten CaCO3 at High Pressures and Its Implications for Mantle Conductivity Anomalies
Zhao, Bin, Takashi Yoshino, Qi Chen, Tony Yu, Dongzhou Zhang, Bin Chen, and Yanbin Wang. “Electrical conductivity of amorphous and molten CaCO3 at high pressures and its implications for mantle conductivity anomalies.” Geophysical Research Letters 53, no. 5 (2026): e2025GL119568. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL119568
Microstructural imaging of simple shear deformation through synchrotron tomography
Mondal S, Chow S, Cassidy M (2026;), “Microstructural imaging of simple shear deformation through synchrotron tomography”. Geotechnique Letters, Vol. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.25.00027
Geophysical Impacts and Spectroscopic Identification of a Hydrous Iron Sulfate on Icy Worlds
Pardo, O. S., Palfey, W. R., Liu, Z., Goddard, W. A., III, Rossman, G. R., & Jackson, J. M. (2026). Geophysical impacts and spectroscopic identification of a hydrous iron sulfate on icy worlds. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 131, e2025JE009238. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009238 Read More
High Pressure Formation of the Eight-Fold Coordinated Post-Post Spinel MgFe2O4
Zurkowski, Claire C., Jing Yang, Stella Chariton, Vitali Prakapenka, and Yingwei Fei. “High pressure formation of the eight‐fold coordinated post‐post spinel MgFe2O4.” Geophysical Research Letters 53, no. 3 (2026): e2025GL120161.
The Effects of Iron and Manganese Doping on the Carbonation of Brucite [Mg(OH)2]
Chung, Dong Youn, Juliane Weber, Lawrence M. Anovitz, Barbara R. Evans, Ke Yuan, Sai Adapa, Matthew G. Boebinger et al. “The Effects of Iron and Manganese Doping on the Carbonation of Brucite [Mg (OH) 2].” The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2026).
Density of Sodium Aluminosilicate Melts Along the NaAlSiO4-NaAlSi3O8 Join at High Pressure: In-Situ Measurements and Re-Calibration of a Modified Hard-Sphere Equation of State For Silicate Melts
Xu, Man, Zhicheng Jing, James A. Van Orman, Qingyang Hu, Qi Chen, Tony Yu, and Yanbin Wang. “Density of sodium aluminosilicate melts along the NaAlSiO4‐NaAlSi3O8 join at high pressure: In‐situ measurements and re‐calibration of a modified hard‐sphere equation of state for silicate melts.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 131,
Workshops
2026 ISRD SEES Rock Deformation Workshop
A Tutorial on Synchrotron-Based Rock Deformation Experiments This hands-on workshop is to introduce high-pressure, high-temperature experimental techniques using synchrotron radiation in a real beamline environment. Participating researchers will gain practical experience in preparing deformation cell assemblies, operating high-pressure presses, monitoring strain and stress, measuring sound velocities during deformation experiments, and
Events & Outreach
IR Microprobe Project at NSLS-II
The IR microprobe is about to take light! If you are interested in discussing opportunities for “technical and science commissioning” measurements for Earth and Environmental samples then please reach out to Tiffany Victor ([email protected]) or Ryan Tappero ([email protected]) in the NSLS-II Bioimaging Facility (https://www.bnl.gov/nsls2/techniques/bioimaging.php) or our NSF-SEES partners in residence — Zhenxian
New Precision Pedestal Enhances 6BM High-Pressure Capabilities
A new, high precision pedestal for the 250-ton hydraulic press has been installed at SEES Beamline 6BM at the Advanced Photon Source. The press is equipped with a D-DIA module and a rotational Drickamer apparatus which covers a pressure range from the crust to the lower mantle. This SEES beamline