Cryo-Egg: enabling wireless communications for a deep subglacial application
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Geographical Sciences
Abstract
Many sub-surface environments currently feature as 'voids' in our understanding of the Earth's system, because inaccessibility and hostile conditions prevent the use of cabled measurement devices. The basal regions of glaciers and ice sheets are a prime example of such environments. Here, the presence of moving ice up to several kilometers in thickness means in situ measurements can often only be made by 'wireless' sensors (e.g. the fast-flowing outlet glaciers that discharge ice from Greenland and Antarctica to the ocean). These measurements are critical to improving the current understanding the future response of ice sheets to climate change and the role of 'sub-glacial' environments as habitats for microbial life. Currently, there are no wireless sensors for deep sub-glacial environments. This proposal aims to provide the first proof of concept evaluation of key wireless communications technologies for a deep (up to 4 km of ice) sub-glacial application via a combined laboratory/numerical modeling study. A wide range of technology challenges are present in this deep, icy environment making technology solutions widely applicable to other deep sub-surface situations where rock, water and/or ice are present (e.g. deep ocean, mines, rock boreholes, permafrost). Technologies developed will have numerous possibilities for future use by deep-ice sheet drilling science campaigns, to include, the Lake Ellsworth Exploration Programme (via project partner Siegert) and BEAMISH (via project partner Smith). The proposal has direct relevant for NERC strategic science areas of 'Climate system', 'Biodiversity' and 'Technologies' and cross-cuts many NERC science topics (e.g. Climate and Climate change, Glacial and Cryospheric Systems, Hydrological Processes and Technology for Environmental Application). Research conducted will provide a springboard for a subsequent NERC/EPSRC bid, aiming to develop the first autonomous sensing platform for a deep ice sheet deployment.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Copenhagen (Collaboration)
- Biotrack (Collaboration)
- Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- British Antarctic Survey (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- University of Edinburgh (Project Partner)
- GO Science Ltd (Project Partner)
Publications
Bagshaw EA
(2011)
The microbial habitability of weathered volcanic glass inferred from continuous sensing techniques.
in Astrobiology
Bagshaw E
(2011)
High-resolution monitoring reveals dissolved oxygen dynamics in an Antarctic cryoconite hole
in Hydrological Processes
Bagshaw EA
(2011)
Determination of dissolved oxygen in the cryosphere: a comprehensive laboratory and field evaluation of fiber optic sensors.
in Environmental science & technology
Bagshaw E
(2012)
E-tracers: Development of a low cost wireless technique for exploring sub-surface hydrological systems
in Hydrological Processes
Bagshaw EA
(2016)
Response of Antarctic cryoconite microbial communities to light.
in FEMS microbiology ecology
Bagshaw E
(2016)
Chemical sensors for in situ data collection in the cryosphere
in TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Lishman B
(2017)
Assessing the utility of acoustic communication for wireless sensors deployed beneath ice sheets
in Annals of Glaciology
Bagshaw E
(2017)
Novel wireless sensors for in situ measurement of sub-ice hydrologic systems
in Annals of Glaciology
BAGSHAW E
(2018)
Prototype wireless sensors for monitoring subsurface processes in snow and firn
in Journal of Glaciology
Prior-Jones M
(2021)
Cryoegg: development and field trials of a wireless subglacial probe for deep, fast-moving ice
in Journal of Glaciology
Description | Cryoegg: a novel wireless instrument for exploring deep ice |
Amount | £232,387 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R03530X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 10/2022 |
Description | UKIERI: Bio-climatic feedbacks of melting Himalayan Ice |
Amount | £198,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | Collaboration with the East Greenland Ice Core Project (EGRIP) |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Department | Niels Bohr Institute |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Liz Bagshaw (former PDRA on two technology-led NERC grants led from Bristol) participated in the EGRIP field season, and developed and deployed Etracers and Cryo-Eggs for monitoring processes in firn. |
Collaborator Contribution | This collaboration would not have been possible without significant in kind backing from the EGRIP team. |
Impact | Further plans are being developed. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research ATHENA Expert group launched |
Organisation | Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Leadership of an Expert group by Wadham on Advancing TecHnologies for Exploration in Antarctica (ATHENA) - international collaboration with several countries linked to NERC-funded research |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration |
Impact | Publication of a Special Issue of Annals of Glaciology on Advancing Technologies for Exploration in Antartica, input to the SCAR Code of Conduct for future exploration of subglacial environments (link to policy) |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Technology Development |
Organisation | Biotrack |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Development and adaptation of animal tracking equipment for glacier hydrology research |
Collaborator Contribution | collaboration |
Impact | Various publications - see publications |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Technology application in Antarctica |
Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of sensors and instrumentation for potential deployment via the BEAMISH programme |
Collaborator Contribution | input to technology development |
Impact | none as yet |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Technology application in Antarctica |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Delivery of technology for future subglacial lake exploration |
Collaborator Contribution | deployment opportunities for technology deployment |
Impact | Ongoing |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | 1. Exhibition on "Could Cryo-Eggs help predict sea level rise?" at the Science Museum "Contemporary Science Gallery" (London, 2010-2011): |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | exhibition sparked much public interest via a web-based Q&A media uptake |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011 |
Description | Keynote at European Geophysical Union Meeting (Vienna) by Wadham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Wadham was invited to give a keynote presentation about her sensor development work via several NERC funded projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Organisation of a workshop - Sensor data collection and management in freshwater systems |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | new collaborations NERC impact accelerator funding (See follow-one funding) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Public Engagement with book launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Publication of Ice Rivers by Jemma Wadham (Penguin Press) - for a wide audience. News articles in New Scientist, The Conversation, Financial Times, Vogue Magazine, national newspapers, and podcasts/talks by Radio 4, World Economic Forum, World Bank, The Guardian, NHK Japan, ABC news Australia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
Description | Science presentations at 7 international schools in Hong Kong and China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Email follow up has happened. Further information has been requested. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
Description | Sixth Form Science Café, Castle School Thornbury, Bristol, Nov 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The purpose to was to engage schools groups in science and technology in ice sheets. Follow up correspondence has happened. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Subglacial processes early career training workshop, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Apr 2014: Talk on New technologies for subglacial investigation; Biogeochemistry of subglacial environments |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Follow up correspondence |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Talks at schools (Schools STEM outreach day, 5th July, Bristol Oasis Marksbury Rd, 30th January by Liz Bagshaw) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Liz Bagshaw, former PDRA on two sensor-focussed research grants, gave talks at local schools in Bristol and Cardiff. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |