scholarly journals The investigation and experience of using ESTISOL™ 240 and COASOL™ for ice-core drilling

2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (68) ◽  
pp. 219-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon G. Sheldon ◽  
Jørgen P. Steffensen ◽  
Steffen B. Hansen ◽  
Trevor J. Popp ◽  
Sigfús J. Johnsen
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Drill Fluid ◽  
Scientific Analysis ◽  
Successful Recovery ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
A Site

AbstractContinuous good-quality deep ice cores provide excellent scientific data with which to reconstruct a past climate record for >800 ka. At depths starting from ∼100m using an electromechanical drill, a drilling liquid is essential for successful recovery of the very high-quality ice cores demanded by modern scientific analysis techniques (e.g. continuous flow analysis). Finding a suitable drill fluid for use at deep ice-coring drill sites is not an easy task. Temperatures vary greatly not just from site to site, but also at a site where the average mean temperature from surface to bedrock can vary from –55°C to –2.75°C. In the past 60 years, many fluids have been used, with varying degrees of success, but for various reasons are either unavailable, are now considered unsafe and dangerous or are too environmentally damaging to be permitted. Here we report on our pre-season investigation into possible candidate drill fluids, with specific information concerning ESTISOL™ 240 and COASOL™, the rationale behind the redesign of our drill successfully used at NorthGRIP, Greenland, and EPICA DML, Antarctica, the knock-on effect of those changes, and our field experience in Greenland at Flade Isblink in 2006 and at NEEM in 2009–10.

scholarly journals Improved methodologies for continuous-flow analysis of stable water isotopes in ice cores

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 617-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler R. Jones ◽  
James W. C. White ◽  
Eric J. Steig ◽  
Bruce H. Vaughn ◽  
Valerie Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis

Abstract. Water isotopes in ice cores are used as a climate proxy for local temperature and regional atmospheric circulation as well as evaporative conditions in moisture source regions. Traditional measurements of water isotopes have been achieved using magnetic sector isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). However, a number of recent studies have shown that laser absorption spectrometry (LAS) performs as well or better than IRMS. The new LAS technology has been combined with continuous-flow analysis (CFA) to improve data density and sample throughput in numerous prior ice coring projects. Here, we present a comparable semi-automated LAS-CFA system for measuring high-resolution water isotopes of ice cores. We outline new methods for partitioning both system precision and mixing length into liquid and vapor components – useful measures for defining and improving the overall performance of the system. Critically, these methods take into account the uncertainty of depth registration that is not present in IRMS nor fully accounted for in other CFA studies. These analyses are achieved using samples from a South Pole firn core, a Greenland ice core, and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide ice core. The measurement system utilizes a 16-position carousel contained in a freezer to consecutively deliver  ∼  1 m  ×  1.3 cm2 ice sticks to a temperature-controlled melt head, where the ice is converted to a continuous liquid stream and eventually vaporized using a concentric nebulizer for isotopic analysis. An integrated delivery system for water isotope standards is used for calibration to the Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW) scale, and depth registration is achieved using a precise overhead laser distance device with an uncertainty of ±0.2  mm. As an added check on the system, we perform inter-lab LAS comparisons using WAIS Divide ice samples, a corroboratory step not taken in prior CFA studies. The overall results are important for substantiating data obtained from LAS-CFA systems, including optimizing liquid and vapor mixing lengths, determining melt rates for ice cores with different accumulation and thinning histories, and removing system-wide mixing effects that are convolved with the natural diffusional signal that results primarily from water molecule diffusion in the firn column.

scholarly journals Improved Methodologies for Continuous Flow Analysis of Stable Water Isotopes in Ice Cores

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler R. Jones ◽  
James W. C. White ◽  
Eric J. Steig ◽  
Bruce H. Vaughn ◽  
Valerie Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Mixing Length ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis

Abstract. Water isotopes in ice cores are used as a climate proxy for local temperature and regional atmospheric circulation as well as evaporative conditions in moisture source regions. Traditional measurements of water isotopes have been achieved using magnetic sector isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). However, a number of recent studies have shown that laser absorption spectrometers (LAS) perform as well or better than IRMS. The new LAS technology has been combined with continuous flow analysis (CFA) to improve data density and sample throughput in numerous prior ice coring projects. Here, we present a comparable semi-automated LAS-CFA system for measuring high-resolution water isotopes of ice cores. We outline new methods for partitioning both system uncertainty and system mixing length into liquid and vapor components – useful measures for defining and improving the overall performance of the system. Critically, our methods take into account the uncertainty of depth registration that is not present in IRMS nor fully accounted for in other CFA studies. We also explain a method for introducing consecutive sections of isotopically distinct ice at the melt head to define the system-wide mixing length. These analyses are achieved using samples from a South Pole firn core, a Greenland ice core, and the WAIS Divide ice core. The measurement system utilizes a 16-position carousel contained in a freezer to consecutively deliver ~ 1 m × 1.3 cm2 ice sticks to a temperature controlled melt head, where the ice is converted to a continuous liquid stream, and eventually vaporized using a concentric nebulizer for isotopic analysis. An integrated delivery system for water isotope standards is used for calibration to the VSMOW-SLAP scale and depth registration is achieved using a precise overhead laser distance device with an uncertainty of ±0.2 mm. As an added check on our system, we perform inter-lab LAS comparisons using WAIS Divide ice samples, a corroboratory step not taken in prior CFA studies. The overall results are important for substantiating data obtained from LAS-CFA systems, including optimizing liquid and vapor mixing lengths, determining melt rates for ice cores with different accumulation and thinning histories, and removing system-wide mixing effects that are convolved with the natural diffusional signal that results primarily from water molecule diffusion in the firn column.

Forty years later: High resolution continuous flow analysis of the Dye3 ice core

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helle Astrid Kjær ◽  
Margaret Harlan ◽  
Paul Vallelonga ◽  
Anders Svensson ◽  
Thomas Blunier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
The Core ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis

<div><span><span>The Dye-3 ice core was drilled to bedrock at the Southern part of the central Greenland ice sheet (65°11'N, 43°50'W) in 1979-1981. The southern location is characterized by high accumulation rates compared to more central locations of the ice sheet. Since its drilling, numerous analyses of the core have been performed, and the ice has since been in freezer storage both in the USA and in Denmark.</span></span></div><div><span>In October and November 2019, the remaining ice, two mostly complete sections covering the depths of 1753–1820m and 1865–1918m of the Dye-3 core, were melted during a continuous flow analysis (CFA) campaign at the Physics of Ice, Climate, and Earth (PICE) group at the University of Copenhagen. The data represents both Holocene, Younger Dryas and Glacial sections (GS 5 to 12).</span></div><div> </div><div><span><span>The measured data consist chemistry and impurities contained in the ice, isotopes, as well as analysis of methane and other atmospheric gases. </span></span></div><div><span><span>The chemistry measurements include NH</span></span><span><span><sub>4</sub></span></span><span><span><sup>+</sup></span></span><span><span>, Ca</span></span><span><span><sup>2+</sup></span></span><span><span>, and Na</span></span><span><span><sup>+</sup></span></span><span><span> ions, which besides being influenced by transport, provide information about forest fires, wind-blown dust, and sea ice, respectively, as well as acidity, which aids in the identification of volcanic events contained in the core. The quantity and grain size distribution of insoluble particles was analyzed by means of an Abakus laser particle counter.</span></span></div><div> </div><div><span>We compare the new high-resolution CFA record of dye3 with previous analysis and thus evaluate the progress made over 40 years. Further we compare overlapping time periods with other central Greenland ice cores and discuss spatial patterns in relation to the presented climate proxies.</span></div>

scholarly journals High-resolution continuous flow analysis setup for water isotopic measurement from ice cores using laser spectroscopy

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 12081-12124 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Emanuelsson ◽  
W. T. Baisden ◽  
N. A. N. Bertler ◽  
E. D. Keller ◽  
V. Gkinis
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Laser Spectroscopy ◽  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
Δ18o And Δd

Abstract. Here we present an experimental setup for water stable isotopes (δ18O and δD) continuous flow measurements. It is the first continuous flow laser spectroscopy system that is using Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (OA-ICOS; analyzer manufactured by Los Gatos Research – LGR) in combination with an evaporation unit to continuously analyze sample from an ice core. A Water Vapor Isotopic Standard Source (WVISS) calibration unit, manufactured by LGR, was modified to: (1) increase the temporal resolution by reducing the response time (2) enable measurements on several water standards, and (3) to reduce the influence from memory effects. While this setup was designed for the Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) of ice cores, it can also continuously analyze other liquid or vapor sources. The modified setup provides a shorter response time (~54 and 18 s for 2013 and 2014 setup, respectively) compared to the original WVISS unit (~62 s), which is an improvement in measurement resolution. Another improvement compared to the original WVISS is that the modified setup has a reduced memory effect. Stability tests comparing the modified WVISS and WVISS setups were performed and Allan deviations (σAllan) were calculated to determine precision at different averaging times. For the 2013 modified setup the precision after integration times of 103 s are 0.060 and 0.070‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively. For the WVISS setup the corresponding σAllan values are 0.030, 0.060 and 0.043‰ for δ18O, δD and δ17O, respectively. For the WVISS setup the precision is 0.035, 0.070 and 0.042‰ after 103 s for δ18O, δD and δ17O, respectively. Both the modified setups and WVISS setup are influenced by instrumental drift with δ18O being more drift sensitive than δD. The σAllan values for δ18O of 0.30 and 0.18‰ for the modified (2013) and WVISS setup, respectively after averaging times of 104 s (2.78 h). The Isotopic Water Analyzer (IWA)-modified WVISS setup used during the 2013 Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) ice core processing campaign achieved high precision measurements, in particular for δD, with high temporal resolution for the upper part of the core, where a seasonally resolved isotopic signal is preserved.

scholarly journals Continuous flow analysis methods for sodium, magnesium and calcium detection in the Skytrain ice core

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Mackenzie M. Grieman ◽  
Helene M. Hoffmann ◽  
Jack D. Humby ◽  
Robert Mulvaney ◽  
Christoph Nehrbass-Ahles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
Sodium Magnesium

Abstract Dissolved and particulate sodium, magnesium and calcium are analyzed in ice cores to determine past changes in sea ice extent, terrestrial dust variability and atmospheric aerosol transport efficiency. They are also used to date ice cores if annual layers are visible. Multiple methods have been developed to analyze these important compounds in ice cores. Continuous flow analysis (CFA) is implemented with instruments that sample the meltstream continuously. In this study, CFA with ICP-MS (inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry) and fast ion chromatography (FIC) methods are compared for analysis of sodium and magnesium. ICP-MS, FIC and fluorescence methods are compared for analysis of calcium. Respective analysis of a 10 m section of the Antarctic WACSWAIN Skytrain Ice Rise ice core shows that all of the methods result in similar levels of the compounds. The ICP-MS method is the most suitable for analysis of the Skytrain ice core due to its superior precision (relative standard deviation: 1.6% for Na, 1.3% for Mg and 1.2% for Ca) and sampling frequency compared to the FIC method. The fluorescence detection method may be preferred for calcium analysis due to its higher depth resolution (1.4 cm) relative to the ICP-MS and FIC methods (~4 cm).

scholarly journals A new continuous high-resolution detection system for sulphate in ice cores

2007 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 178-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Bigler ◽  
Anders Svensson ◽  
Jørgen Peder Steffensen ◽  
Patrik Kaufmann
Keyword(s):  
Detection System ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Barium Sulphate ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
Explosive Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Analysis System

AbstractSulphate (SO42–) is a major ion found in polar ice cores and is related to different aerosol sources and processes. Explosive volcanic eruptions, even far away, can cause distinct sulphate peaks in ice core records. Thus, a robust sulphate detection system which is suitable for fieldwork and which enables the measurement of sulphate at high temporal resolution is of great interest. In this study, we present the adaptation of a new continuous flow analysis system for sulphate that is based on a spectrophotometric method using dimethylsulfonazo III and an inline reactor column containing barium sulphate particles. The method shows a detection limit of ∽70 ng g–1 and a linear range up to at least 3000 ng g–1. It is simple, robust and less prone to interferences compared to the previously used method.

scholarly journals High-resolution continuous-flow analysis setup for water isotopic measurement from ice cores using laser spectroscopy

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 2869-2883 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Emanuelsson ◽  
W. T. Baisden ◽  
N. A. N. Bertler ◽  
E. D. Keller ◽  
V. Gkinis
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Laser Spectroscopy ◽  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Stability Tests ◽  
Analytical Instruments ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
Δ18o And Δd

Abstract. Here we present an experimental setup for water stable isotope (δ18O and δD) continuous-flow measurements and provide metrics defining the performance of the setup during a major ice core measurement campaign (Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution; RICE). We also use the metrics to compare alternate systems. Our setup is the first continuous-flow laser spectroscopy system that is using off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS; analyzer manufactured by Los Gatos Research, LGR) in combination with an evaporation unit to continuously analyze water samples from an ice core. A Water Vapor Isotope Standard Source (WVISS) calibration unit, manufactured by LGR, was modified to (1) enable measurements on several water standards, (2) increase the temporal resolution by reducing the response time and (3) reduce the influence from memory effects. While this setup was designed for the continuous-flow analysis (CFA) of ice cores, it can also continuously analyze other liquid or vapor sources. The custom setups provide a shorter response time (~ 54 and 18 s for 2013 and 2014 setup, respectively) compared to the original WVISS unit (~ 62 s), which is an improvement in measurement resolution. Another improvement compared to the original WVISS is that the custom setups have a reduced memory effect. Stability tests comparing the custom and WVISS setups were performed and Allan deviations (σAllan) were calculated to determine precision at different averaging times. For the custom 2013 setup the precision after integration times of 103 s is 0.060 and 0.070 ‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively. The corresponding σAllan values for the custom 2014 setup are 0.030, 0.060 and 0.043 ‰ for δ18O, δD and δ17O, respectively. For the WVISS setup the precision is 0.035, 0.070 and 0.042 ‰ after 103 s for δ18O, δD and δ17O, respectively. Both the custom setups and WVISS setup are influenced by instrumental drift with δ18O being more drift sensitive than δD. The σAllan values for δ18O are 0.30 and 0.18 ‰ for the custom 2013 and WVISS setup, respectively, after averaging times of 104 s (2.78 h). Using response time tests and stability tests, we show that the custom setups are more responsive (shorter response time), whereas the University of Copenhagen (UC) setup is more stable. More broadly, comparisons of different setups address the challenge of integrating vaporizer/spectrometer isotope measurement systems into a CFA campaign with many other analytical instruments.

scholarly journals A novel approach to process brittle ice for continuous flow analysis of stable water isotopes

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (244) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
REBECCA L. PYNE ◽  
ELIZABETH D. KELLER ◽  
SILVIA CANESSA ◽  
NANCY A. N. BERTLER ◽  
ALEX R. PYNE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Climate History ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
Isotope Measurements ◽  
Water Isotope

ABSTRACTBrittle ice, which occurs in all intermediate-depth and deep ice cores retrieved from high-latitude regions, presents a challenge for high-resolution measurements of water isotopes, gases, ions and other quantities conducted with continuous flow analysis (CFA). We present a novel method of preserving brittle ice for CFA stable water isotope measurements using data from a new ice core recovered by the Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) project. Modest modification of the drilling technique and the accommodation of non-horizontal fractures (‘slanted breaks’) in processing led to a substantial improvement in the percentage of brittle ice analyzed with CFA (87.8%). Whereas traditional processing methods remove entire fragmented pieces of ice, our method allowed the incorporation of a total of 3 m of ice (1% of the 261 m of brittle ice and ~1300 years of climate history) that otherwise would not have been available for CFA. Using the RICE stable water isotope CFA dataset, we demonstrate the effect of slanted breaks and analyze the resulting smoothing of the data with real and simulated examples. Our results suggest that retaining slanted breaks are a promising technique for preserving brittle ice material for CFA stable water isotope measurements.

scholarly journals A technique for continuous detection of drill liquid in ice cores

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (215) ◽  
pp. 503-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Warming ◽  
A. Svensson ◽  
P. Vallelonga ◽  
M. Bigler
Keyword(s):  
Ice Core ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Chemical Impurities ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
Ammonium Hydrogen ◽  
Brittle Zone ◽  
Ultraviolet Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Set Up

AbstractWhen drilling ice cores deeper than ∼100 m, drill liquid is required to maintain ice-core quality and to limit borehole closure. Due to high-pressure air bubbles in the ice, the ice core can crack during drilling and core retrieval, typically at 600–1200 m depth in Greenland. Ice from this ‘brittle zone’ can be contaminated by drill liquid as it seeps through cracks into the core. Continuous flow analysis (CFA) systems are routinely used to analyse ice for chemical impurities, so the detection of drill liquid is important for validating accurate measurements and avoiding potential instrument damage. An optical detector was constructed to identify drill liquid in CFA tubing by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy at a wavelength of 290 nm. The set-up was successfully field-tested in the frame of the NEEM ice-core drilling project in Greenland. A total of 27 cases of drill liquid contamination were identified during the analysis of 175 m of brittle zone ice. The analyses most strongly affected by drill liquid contamination include insoluble dust particles, electrolytic conductivity, ammonium, hydrogen peroxide and sulphate. This method may also be applied to other types of drill liquid used at other drill sites.

scholarly journals High resolution aerosol concentration data from the Greenland NorthGRIP and NEEM deep ice cores

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Erhardt ◽  
Matthias Bigler ◽  
Urs Federer ◽  
Gideo Gfeller ◽  
Daiana Leuenberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Deposition Flux ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Continuous Flow Analysis ◽  
North Greenland

Abstract. Records of chemical impurities from ice cores enable us to reconstruct the past deposition of aerosols onto the polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Through that, they allow us to gain insight into changes of the source, transport and deposition processes that ultimately determine the deposition flux at the coreing location. However, the low concentrations of the aerosol species in the ice and the resulting high risk of contamination poses a formidable analytical challenge, especially if long, continuous and highly resolved records are needed. Continuous Flow Analysis, CFA, the continuous melting, decontamination and analysis of ice-core samples has mostly overcome this issue and has quickly become the de-facto standard to obtain high-resolution aerosol records from ice cores after its inception at the University of Bern in the mid 90s. Here we present continuous records of calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−1) and electrolytic conductivity at 1 mm depth resolution from the NGRIP (North Greenland Ice Core Project) and NEEM (North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling) ice cores produced by the Bern Continuous Flow Analysis group in the years 2000 to 2011. Both of the records have previously been used in a number of studies but have never been published in the full 1 mm resolution. Alongside the 1 mm datasets we provide decadal averages, a detailed description of the methods, relevant references, an assessment of the quality of the data and its usable resolution. Along the way we will also give some historical context on the development of the Bern CFA system.

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