DELVE: Development and validation of first generation chemical sensors for icy ecosystems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Geographical Sciences
Abstract
Glaciers and ice sheets are one of the least explored parts of the Earth's surface, and are now known to harbor significant populations of micro-organisms despite the challenging environmental conditions (e.g. extreme cold, desiccation, freezing and high pressure under ice sheets). Many of these microbes accelerate chemical weathering and supply nutrients to downstream ecosystems. A better knowledge of these processes is widely recognized as important for understanding: 1) global impacts of glaciers/ice sheets on the cycling of carbon and nutrients 2) biodiversity and life in extreme environments (e.g. Antarctic Subglacial Lakes) and 3) water flow beneath ice sheets as inferred from meltwater chemistry. Currently, the toolkits available to glaciologists to advance knowledge in these areas are very limited, and a technological leap is required to engage fully in future science campaigns. Building on previous work, this proposal aims to develop the first generation of compact chemical sensors for use in glaciers and ice sheets. While much of this technology has been evaluated for use in the oceans, it has not been assessed or modified for application in icy environments. We will take this technology and evaluate its performance under icy conditions (e.g. at low temperature, under freeze/thaw, at high pressure and with glacial meltwater sample types). This will be followed by design changes and further testing, culminating in a final demonstration of prototype instruments in Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. These developments will provide key and rate limiting technology for future glacial science, and will have application in subglacial lake exploration (e.g. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth, Antarctica), in marine under-ice operations (e.g. Autosub under ice), and across a wide range of icy ecosystems where in situ measurements are desirable. This work is a forerunner to high impact international science campaigns requiring the development of purpose-built measuring systems that employ a comprehensive array of chemical sensor (e.g. the Lake Ellsworth Exploration Programme, the 'Basal Conditions on Rutford Ice Stream: Bed Access, Monitoring and Ice Sheet History' (BEAMISH) and the US-funded WISSARD programme, with which we have strong links). It also has strong relevance to water quality monitoring in freshwater environments, which will be explored via collaboration with the Environment Agency, UK.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Copenhagen (Collaboration)
- Unisense (Collaboration)
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (United Kingdom) (Collaboration)
- Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (Collaboration)
- Montana State University (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- British Antarctic Survey (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Unisense (Denmark) (Project Partner)
- Chelsea Technologies (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Environment Agency (Project Partner)
- University of Edinburgh (Project Partner)
Publications
Hawkings J
(2021)
Large subglacial source of mercury from the southwestern margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet
in Nature Geoscience
Wadham Jemma
(2021)
Life under ice Comment
in NEW SCIENTIST
Bagshaw E
(2021)
Measuring pH in low ionic strength glacial meltwaters using ion selective field effect transistor (ISFET) technology
in Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
Cameron KA
(2017)
Meltwater export of prokaryotic cells from the Greenland ice sheet.
in Environmental microbiology
Musilova M
(2017)
Microbially driven export of labile organic carbon from the Greenland ice sheet
in Nature Geoscience
Bagshaw E
(2017)
Novel wireless sensors for in situ measurement of sub-ice hydrologic systems
in Annals of Glaciology
Raiswell R
(2016)
Potentially bioavailable iron delivery by iceberg-hosted sediments and atmospheric dust to the polar oceans
in Biogeosciences
Siegert MJ
(2016)
Preface.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Bagshaw E
(2016)
Processes controlling carbon cycling in Antarctic glacier surface ecosystems
in Geochemical Perspectives Letters
BAGSHAW E
(2018)
Prototype wireless sensors for monitoring subsurface processes in snow and firn
in Journal of Glaciology
Wadham JL
(2019)
Publisher Correction: Ice sheets matter for the global carbon cycle.
in Nature communications
Linhoff B
(2020)
Rapid mineral surface weathering beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet shown by radium and uranium isotopes
in Chemical Geology
Bagshaw EA
(2016)
Response of Antarctic cryoconite microbial communities to light.
in FEMS microbiology ecology
Hatton JE
(2019)
Silicon isotopes in Arctic and sub-Arctic glacial meltwaters: the role of subglacial weathering in the silicon cycle.
in Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Wadham J
(2016)
Sources, cycling and export of nitrogen on the Greenland Ice Sheet
in Biogeosciences
Hawkings J
(2015)
The effect of warming climate on nutrient and solute export from the Greenland Ice Sheet
in Geochemical Perspectives Letters
Hawkings J
(2016)
The Greenland Ice Sheet as a hot spot of phosphorus weathering and export in the Arctic
in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Bagshaw EA
(2011)
The microbial habitability of weathered volcanic glass inferred from continuous sensing techniques.
in Astrobiology
Hawkings JR
(2018)
The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets.
in Nature communications
Nightingale A
(2015)
Trends in microfluidic systems for in situ chemical analysis of natural waters
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Linhoff B
(2017)
Utility of 222Rn as a passive tracer of subglacial distributed system drainage
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Nixon S
(2017)
Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
in Biogeosciences
Description | Novel chemical sensors were adapted, tested and applied on the Greenland Ice Sheet. This project significantly advanced the performance of these sensors which have since been applied in ODA-related projects in Chile and Peru via separate funding. Some of the technology is now being commercialised by the National Oceanography Centre, UK who developed them. |
Exploitation Route | Options to commercialise some of the technology are now being pursued. It is also being applied via follow on projects funded by NERC. |
Sectors | Environment |
Description | The sensors developed by the National Oceanography Centre for this project are now in the process of being commercialised, with potential economic impact. The novel technologies developed and adapted via DELVE have revealed critical insights about how ice sheets behave, including that they are emitters of the greenhouse gas methane (Lamarche-Gagnon et al, Nature, 2020)| |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Chair of the SCAR ATHENA Expert Group (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) "Advancing TecHnologies for subglacial ExploratioN in Antarctica" and in the SCAR Code of Conduct for subglacial access in Antarctica |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | The SCAR Code of Conduct (on which Wadham served as a panel member) established guidelines for subglacial exploration in Antarctica. These have informed 3 subglacial lake access campaigns worldwide. |
URL | http://www.scar.org/scar_media/documents/science/atcm34_ip033_CofC_SAEs.pdf |
Description | NERC-CONICYT joint funding scheme |
Amount | £733,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | PII20150106 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2016 |
End | 04/2019 |
Description | Sub-ice sheet weathering: a missing link in the global silicon cycle? |
Amount | £262,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RPG-2016-439 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 05/2021 |
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 | 04/2017 |
End | 04/2020 |
Title | New sensors for exploring icy ecosystems |
Description | We have developed, tested and validated (in the field and laboratory) a new suite of chemical sensors for use in cryospheric environments. This work was a collaboration between the University of Bristol and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (where the sensors were developed). This involved taking marine sensor technology and adapting it to withstand conditions in icy ecosystems, e.g. low temperature, freeze-thaw etc. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | This is a new research outcome, but would make a new suite of sensors available to those working in icy regions. |
Description | Collaboration with Thermofisher Scientific |
Organisation | Thermo Fisher Scientific |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Thermo. commissioned our laboratory to perform a Ion Chromatograph system inter-comparison for the analysis of natural waters |
Collaborator Contribution | We are undertaking the inter comparison project |
Impact | A short film has been produced (see engagement outputs), the results will be used to improve the current technology |
Start Year | 2015 |
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 | Unisense |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Collaboration, use of technology |
Collaborator Contribution | Technology development and adaptation |
Impact | None as yet, early stage |
Start Year | 2011 |
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 | Technology application in Antarctica |
Organisation | Montana State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of sensors and instrumentation for deployment in Antarctica, participation in a field season (McMurdo Dry Valleys) |
Collaborator Contribution | Logistcial and science support |
Impact | Bagshaw, E.A., M. Tranter, J.L. Wadham, A. Fountain, M. Mowlem. 2011. High resolution monitoring reveals dissolved oxygen dynamics in an Antarctic cryoconite hole, Hydrological Processes, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.8049. Bagshaw, E. A., M. Tranter, A.G. Fountain, H. Basagic, J.L. Wadham. 2010. Dynamic behaviour of supraglacial lakes on cold polar glaciers: Canada Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, Journal of Glaciology, 56, 196, 366-368 |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Blog (Jon Hawkings PhD student) - during time at Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron science facility |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | ongoing ongoing, very recent |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://blog.eag.eu.com/general/beamline-i08/ |
Description | Co-organised a CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) event at the University of Bristol entitled "Climate change impacts on the cryosphere - chemical and physical" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Follow up correspondence. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Cornerstone Film for Thermofisher Scientific |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Thermofisher Scientific commissioned a short film on the use of Ion Chromatography in cryospheric sciences. This film will go live in 2016 and will result in follow on funding from the company. Please see link to the film on Jemma Wadham's Research Home Pages (see link below) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bristol.ac.uk/geography/people/jemma-l-wadham/research.html |
Description | Invited research seminar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Wadham invited to give a research seminar at WHOI, based upon her work on Greenland biogeochemistry and sensor development. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
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 | Research Seminars - National University of Singapore, Imperial College London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Follow up correspondence and requests for further info have been made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
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 | Sensors in Water Group, Dorset, UK, Mar 2015: Presentation to industry and academia on 'New technologies for catchment monitoring', including DELVE sensors. We ran a hands-on sensor demonstration stand |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Follow up correspondance |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Short films made of fieldwork and disseminated via YouTube, and live blog of fieldwork activities via twitter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We launched a twitter campaign linked to fieldwork on the NERC DELVE project, currently 73 followers. YouTube videos also aired live - 400 views. https://twitter.com/cryodelve |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShcPHuFxmI |
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 |
Description | UoB Bristol Glaciology Centre outreach at Room 13 Hareclive (Bristol Ice Explorers) - Jon Hawkings (PhD student), Professor Martyn Tranter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | sparked lots of discussion An art competition for the local school children was launched, focussed on glacial environments |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.room13hareclive.org.uk/news |