Continued Development, Distribution, and Maintenance of the Isoplot Computer Program

Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

0125705 Ludwig This grant provides support for refinements to the widely-used Isoplot/Ex, a MS Excel-based computer program used for reduction and evaluation of radiogenic isotope data. The program will be expanded to include several new capabilities including: 1) a Bayesian + Monte Carlo approach for improving the precision of radiometric dates from a sequence of stratigraphically-constrained beds; 2) a method for logical, statistical, and graphical integration of the two main Ar-Ar age-approaches (stepwise-release age-spectra and Ar-Ar isochrons); 3) a Gaussian unmixing module to enable quantitative evaluation of age-suites involving multiple age-components; 4) code revisions to maintain compatibility with new versions of Excel and eliminate bugs as they are detected; and 5) expansion and revision of the Isoplot User's Manual to increase clarity and teaching effectiveness. ***