Study of the earth's magnetic field behaviour during the Quaternary as well as sedimentary processes, climate change and natural hazards.
The team at the Paleomagnetism and Marine Geology Laboratory at the Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER) has extensive expertise in the study of diverse magnetic, physical and chemical properties of marine and lake sediments from both hemispheres, including from the Arctic and Antarctic. We use a comprehensive suite of instruments to perform detailed studies of sediment cores and conduct seafloor mapping. The team has gained cutting-edge expertise during expeditions to gather geophysical measurements and sediment core samples in sea and in lake environments using several types of corers and echosounders. This wide array of state-of-the-art laboratory and field instruments makes our laboratory a key leader in marine geology research projects, for both our national and international partners.
- Train highly qualified personnel in marine geology at all university levels.
- Open, describe and analyze marine and lake sediment cores.
- Process and analyze data from marine and lacustrine sediment cores.
- Plan and carry out geophysical and sampling expeditions at sea and in lakes.
- Education
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| 2G Enterprise Model SRM-755 cryogenic magnetometer | Superconducting rock magnetometer (SRM). Measure the magnetic properties of sediments. |
| Applied Acoustics Sparker SQUID 2000 | Perform high-resolution seismic profiling at great depths and on seabeds composed of fine or coarse sediments. |
| IKB Technologies Boomer Seistec | Perform high-resolution seismic profiling in coastal waters. |
| CodaOctopus DA series acquisition system | Acquire and process real-time signals from seismic profiling instruments. |
| Geotek Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL-S) | Measure the physical, magnetic and chemical properties of sediment cores. |
| Geotek MSCL-XZ Benchtop Logger | Measure the physical, magnetic and chemical properties of sediment cores, capture ultra-high resolution photos of sediment cores. |
Private and public sector research partners
- Université Laval
- Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
- Interdisciplinary Centre for the Development of Ocean Mapping (CIDCO)
- Reformar Inc.
- Geological Survey of Canada (GSC)
- Canadian Hydrographic Service
- Innovation maritime (IMAR)
- Réseau Québec maritime (RQM)
- Research Centre in Earth System Dynamics (GEOTOP)
- Québec-Océan
- Geotek Ltd.
- Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer)
- Institut physique du globe de Paris (IPGP) - CNRS - Université Paris Cité
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Canada Research Chair in Marine Geology website. | https://www.uqar.ca/a-propos/langues/english/university/choosing-uqar |
| Guillaume St-Onge’s personal page on the ISMER website. | https://www.ismer.ca/recherche/equipe/st-onge-guillaume |
| UQAR's Canada Research Chair in Marine Geology renewed. | https://journallesoir.ca/2023/09/02/chaire-de-recherche-en-geologie-marine-luqar-renouvele/ |
| A UQAR researcher makes the list of Québec Science’s top 10 discoveries of the year for the fourth time. | https://www.lesoleil.com/2023/01/19/pour-une-quatrieme-fois-un-chercheur-de-luqar-parmi-les-10-deco… |
| Going back in time to better understand the risk of earthquakes in the St. Lawrence estuary. | https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1948880/guillaume-st-onge-mer-fleuve-tremblement-terre-recherc… |
| Researcher Guillaume St-Onge, one of Québec Science’s top discoveries of 2022 (interview on the Radio-Canada radio show “Info-réveil”). | https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/info-reveil/segments/entrevue/428863/guillaume… |
| ISMER scientist makes the list of top 10 discoveries of the year (interview on the Radio-Canada radio show “Bon pied, bonne heure!”). | https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/bon-pied-bonne-heure/segments/entrevue/429065/… |
| New investments keep researchers at the forefront of their fields (Canada Foundation for Innovation). | https://www.innovation.ca/news/jelf-crc-august-2023 |
| Science (sea) star: Ocean science research is at a pivotal moment according to Guillaume St-Onge, Director of the Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski at Université du Québec à Rimouski. (CFI podcast) | https://www.innovation.ca/projects-results/research-stories/guillaume-st-onge-marine-geology |