DELVE: Development and validation of first generation chemical sensors for icy ecosystems
Lead Research Organisation:
NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE
Department Name: Science and Technology
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.
Publications
Bagshaw EA
(2011)
Determination of dissolved oxygen in the cryosphere: a comprehensive laboratory and field evaluation of fiber optic sensors.
in Environmental science & technology
Beaton A
(2011)
An automated microfluidic colourimetric sensor applied in situ to determine nitrite concentration
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Bagshaw E
(2011)
High-resolution monitoring reveals dissolved oxygen dynamics in an Antarctic cryoconite hole
in Hydrological Processes
Beaton AD
(2012)
Lab-on-chip measurement of nitrate and nitrite for in situ analysis of natural waters.
in Environmental science & technology
Nightingale A
(2015)
Trends in microfluidic systems for in situ chemical analysis of natural waters
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Milani A
(2015)
Development and application of a microfluidic in-situ analyzer for dissolved Fe and Mn in natural waters.
in Talanta
Hawkings J
(2016)
The Greenland Ice Sheet as a hot spot of phosphorus weathering and export in the Arctic
in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Bagshaw E
(2016)
Chemical sensors for in situ data collection in the cryosphere
in TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Description | The development of robust microfluidic sensors for Nitrate, Phosphate and Iron. |
Exploitation Route | The devices are suitable for commercialisation and are now available under license from Clearwater Sensors ltd (see "spin out" section). |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | DELVE has enabled us to develop and test sensors for extreme conditions, including freeze thaw and high turbidity. This has led to significant advances in technology maturity, so much so that they have been able to go on and perform in other NERC programmes (e.g. on autonomous gliders) and are now commercialised with a new company Clearwater Sensors Ltd. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | (TechOceanS) - Technologies for Ocean Sensing |
Amount | € 8,975,662 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 101000858 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 10/2020 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | GEORGE - Next generation multiplatform Ocean observing technologies for research infrastructures |
Amount | € 9,997,437 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 101094716 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 06/2027 |
Description | MISSION (Mid- Infrared Silicon Photonic Sensors for Healthcare and Environmental Monitoring) |
Amount | £5,757,814 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V047663/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2021 |
End | 06/2026 |