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An improved continuous flow analysis system for high-resolution field measurements on ice cores
Patrik R Kaufmann1, Urs Federer, Manuel A Hutterli
1Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. kaufmann@climate.unibe.ch
Environmental Science & Technology
|November 27, 2008
Summary
An improved continuous flow analysis (CFA) system enhances efficiency and data quality for analyzing ice core impurities and air content. This advancement aids climate change research by providing high-resolution paleoclimate records.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Continuous flow analysis (CFA) is crucial for analyzing ice core impurities as climate indicators.
- Current CFA methods offer high resolution but require improvements in efficiency and field usability.
- Analyzing air content in ice cores provides additional vital climate data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a redesigned CFA system with enhanced efficiency, flexibility, signal quality, compactness, and ease of use.
- To introduce a novel device for measuring total air content in ice cores.
- To enable continuous extraction of air bubbles from the sample water flow for gas analysis.
Main Methods:
- Redesign and implementation of an improved Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) system.
- Development of a novel device for measuring total air content in ice.
- Integration of continuous air bubble extraction into the CFA process for online gas measurements.
Main Results:
- The redesigned CFA system demonstrates significantly enhanced overall efficiency and flexibility.
- Improved signal quality, compactness, and ease of use facilitate field operations, particularly in remote locations like Antarctica and Greenland.
- The novel device and integrated system allow for continuous measurement of total air content and subsequent gas analysis.
Conclusions:
- The improved CFA system offers a more robust and user-friendly platform for high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions.
- The integrated air content measurement and gas analysis capabilities provide a more comprehensive understanding of past atmospheric conditions.
- This advancement is particularly beneficial for challenging field campaigns and enhances the value of ice core records.
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