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).
2025 SEES-ISRD Joint Meeting
SEES and ISRD invite you to attend our annual meeting to be held jointly at the University of Chicago on August 11-13, 2025. Keynote speakers will discuss topics in rock and mineral deformation and rheological properties in Earth, and there will be a poster session with a broad scientific focus. All SEES and ISRD researchers are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to learn more.
Recent Publications
Complex Adsorption Behavior of Neodymium and Ytterbium on Structurally-Distinct Alumina Surfaces
Fang, Yihang, Sang Soo Lee, Greg J. Ledingham, Joanne E. Stubbs, Peter J. Eng, and Jeffrey G. Catalano. “Complex Adsorption Behavior of Neodymium and Ytterbium on Structurally-Distinct Alumina Surfaces.” Environmental Science & Technology (2025).
Pressure-Driven Polar Orthorhombic to Tetragonal Phase Transition in Hafnia at Room Temperature
Janice L. Musfeldt, Sobhit Singh, Kevin A. Smith, Xianghan Xu, Sang-Wook Cheong, Zhenxian Liu, David Vanderbilt, Karin M. Rabe, Pressure-Driven...
Inhibition of Reaction Layer Formation on MgO(100) by Doping with Trace Amounts of Iron
Gabriela Camacho Meneses, Juliane Weber, Raphaël P. Hermann, Anna Wanhala, Joanne E. Stubbs, Peter J. Eng, Ke Yuan, Albina Y. Borisevich, Matthew G. Boebinger, Tingting Liu, Andrew G. Stack, and Jacquelyn N. Bracco, Inhibition of Reaction Layer Formation on MgO(100) by Doping with Trace Amounts of Iron, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C Article ASAP DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c06311
Carbonation of MgO Single Crystals: Implications for Direct Air Capture of CO2
Peng Yang, Jacquelyn N. Bracco, Gabriela Camacho Meneses, Ke Yuan, Joanne E. Stubbs, Mavis D. Boamah, Matthew Brahlek, Michel Sassi, Peter J. Eng, Matthew G. Boebinger, Albina Borisevich, Anna K. Wanhala, Zheming Wang, Kevin M. Rosso, Andrew G. Stack, and Juliane Weber, Carbonation of MgO Single Crystals: Implications for Direct Air Capture of CO2, Environmental Science & […]
Physical properties, internal structure, and the three-dimensional petrography of CI chondrites
Friedrich, J.M., Riveros, E.M., Macke, R.J., Jaret, S.J., Rivers, M.L. and Ebel, D.S. (2025), Physical properties, internal structure, and the three-dimensional petrography of CI chondrites. Meteorit Planet Sci. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.14320
Synthesis, Structure, and Stability of a Novel 2H-Azirine Under Pressure
A. Cabrera, F. Safari, R. Kumar, H. Zhu, M. Ahart, Z. Liu, T. G. Driver and H. Russell J. "Synthesis, Structure, and Stability of a Novel 2H-Azirine...
Science Highlights
Production of highly silicic 3.9 to 4.27 Ga crust on the Moon
Trail, D., N. D. Tailby, M. R. Ackerson, M. Barboni, M. Newville, A. Lanzirotti, and K. D. McKeegan. “Production of highly silicic 3.9 to 4.27 Ga crust on the Moon.” Geochemical Perspectives Letters 33, no. 33 (2024): 27-31.
An oxygen fugacity-temperature-pressure-composition model for sulfide speciation in Mercurian magmas
Brendan A. Anzures, Stephen W. Parman, Ralph E. Milliken, Olivier Namur, Camille Cartier, Francis M. McCubbin, Kathleen E. Vander Kaaden, Kelsey Prissel, Kayla Iacovino, Antonio Lanzirotti, Matthew Newville, “An oxygen fugacity-temperature-pressure-composition model for sulfide speciation in Mercurian magmas,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 388, 61-77 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.012
Sound velocities and thermal equation of state of fcc-iron-nickel alloys at high pressure and high temperature: Implications for the cores of Moon and several planets
Siheng Wang, Sibo Chen, Man Xu, Tony Yu, Yanbin Wang, Baosheng Li, Sound velocities and thermal equation of state of fcc-iron-nickel alloys at high pressure and high temperature: Implications for the cores of Moon and several planets, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 649, 2025, 119118, ISSN 0012-821X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119118.
U and Th zonation in apatite observed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence tomography and implications for the (U–Th) ∕ He system
U and Th zonation in apatite observed by synchrotron X–ray fluorescence tomography and implications for the (U–Th)/He system...
Phase transition kinetics of superionic H2O ice phases revealed by Megahertz X-ray free-electron laser-heating experiments
Husband, R.J., Liermann, H.P., McHardy, J.D. et al. Phase transition kinetics of superionic H2O ice phases revealed by Megahertz X-ray free-electron laser-heating experiments. Nat Commun 15, 8256 (2024).
Structure and transport properties of FeS at planetary core conditions
E. Edmund, T. Bi, Z.M. Geballe, K. Brugman, J.-F. Lin, S. Chariton, V.B. Prakapenka, J. Minár, R.E. Cohen, A.F. Goncharov, Structure and transport properties of FeS at planetary core conditions, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 646, 2024, 118959, ISSN 0012-821X
Latest Happenings
GSE staff install 13 BMD mirror
GSECARS staff install the 13 BMD mirror which will allow vertical focusing of the beam for the tomography and DAC programs.
SEES Town Hall at AGU
SEES Principal Investigator Andy Campbell and members of the Executive Committee shared updates...
SEES Booth at AGU Conference
SEES will have an exhibition booth at the AGU conference in Washington, DC. If you are planning to...
SEES Town Hall 2024
SEES Town Hall on FAIR Data Sharing Policies and Updates on APS and ALS upgradesDate &...