Articles | Volume 17, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1089-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1089-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Brief communication: New sonde to unravel the mystery of polar subglacial lakes
Youhong Sun
Polar Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
Bing Li
School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
Xiaopeng Fan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Polar Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
Yuansheng Li
Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China
Guopin Li
Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, National
Astronomical Observatories, CAS, Nanjing, China
Haibin Yu
College of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou,
China
Hongzhi Li
National Ocean Technology Center, Tianjin, China
Dongliang Wang
Aerospace System Engineering Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Nan Zhang
Polar Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
Da Gong
Polar Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
Rusheng Wang
Polar Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
Yazhou Li
School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
Polar Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Tianming Ma, Zhuang Jiang, Minghu Ding, Pengzhen He, Yuansheng Li, Wenqian Zhang, and Lei Geng
The Cryosphere, 18, 4547–4565, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4547-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4547-2024, 2024
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We constructed a box model to evaluate the isotope effects of atmosphere–snow water vapor exchange at Dome A, Antarctica. The results show clear and invisible diurnal changes in surface snow isotopes under summer and winter conditions, respectively. The model also predicts that the annual net effects of atmosphere–snow water vapor exchange would be overall enrichments in snow isotopes since the effects in summer appear to be greater than those in winter at the study site.
Mikhail A. Sysoev, Pavel G. Talalay, Xiaopeng Fan, Nan Zhang, Da Gong, Yang Yang, Ting Wang, and Zhipeng Deng
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2024-7, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2024-7, 2024
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Our research introduces a technology for exploring subglacial lakes while keeping them isolated from surface contamination. The RECoverable Autonomous Sonde (RECAS) can drill ice both downward and upward, allowing clean water sampling. In some cases, the sonde should drill at specific angles to follow a trajectory, maintain verticality, or bypass obstacles. This paper describes the general principles of steering RECAS by adjusting the drill's heat distribution and the results of the experiments.
Xinyu Lv, Zhihao Cui, Ting Wang, Yumin Wen, An Liu, and Rusheng Wang
The Cryosphere, 18, 3351–3362, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3351-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3351-2024, 2024
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In this study, the formation process of ice chips was observed and the fracture mechanics characteristics of the ice during the cutting process were analyzed. Additionally, a mechanical model for the cutting force was established based on the observation and analysis results. Finally, influencing factors and laws of the cutting force were verified by cutting force test results generated under various experimental conditions.
William Colgan, Christopher Shields, Pavel Talalay, Xiaopeng Fan, Austin P. Lines, Joshua Elliott, Harihar Rajaram, Kenneth Mankoff, Morten Jensen, Mira Backes, Yunchen Liu, Xianzhe Wei, Nanna B. Karlsson, Henrik Spanggård, and Allan Ø. Pedersen
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 12, 121–140, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-12-121-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-12-121-2023, 2023
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We describe a new drill for glaciers and ice sheets. Instead of drilling down into the ice, via mechanical action, our drill melts into the ice. Our goal is simply to pull a cable of temperature sensors on a one-way trip down to the ice–bed interface. Here, we describe the design and testing of our drill. Under laboratory conditions, our melt-tip drill has an efficiency of ∼ 35 % with a theoretical maximum penetration rate of ∼ 12 m h−1. Under field conditions, our efficiency is just ∼ 15 %.
Guitao Shi, Hongmei Ma, Zhengyi Hu, Zhenlou Chen, Chunlei An, Su Jiang, Yuansheng Li, Tianming Ma, Jinhai Yu, Danhe Wang, Siyu Lu, Bo Sun, and Meredith G. Hastings
The Cryosphere, 15, 1087–1095, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1087-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1087-2021, 2021
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It is important to understand atmospheric chemistry over Antarctica under a changing climate. Thus snow collected on a traverse from the coast to Dome A was used to investigate variations in snow chemistry. The non-sea-salt fractions of K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ are associated with terrestrial inputs, and nssCl− is from HCl. In general, proportions of non-sea-salt fractions of ions to the totals are higher in the interior areas than on the coast, and the proportions are higher in summer than in winter.
Pavel Talalay, Yazhou Li, Laurent Augustin, Gary D. Clow, Jialin Hong, Eric Lefebvre, Alexey Markov, Hideaki Motoyama, and Catherine Ritz
The Cryosphere, 14, 4021–4037, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4021-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4021-2020, 2020
Guitao Shi, Meredith G. Hastings, Jinhai Yu, Tianming Ma, Zhengyi Hu, Chunlei An, Chuanjin Li, Hongmei Ma, Su Jiang, and Yuansheng Li
The Cryosphere, 12, 1177–1194, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1177-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1177-2018, 2018
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The deposition and preservation of NO3− across East Antarctica was investigated. On the coast, dry deposition contributes 27–44 % of the NO3− fluxes, and the linear relationship between NO3− and snow accumulation rate suggests a homogeneity of atmospheric NO3− levels. In inland snow, a relatively weak correlation between NO3− and snow accumulation was found, indicating that NO3− is mainly dominated by post-depositional processes. The coexisting ions are generally less influential on snow NO3−.
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Short summary
The discovery of polar subglacial lakes, rivers and streams has opened a new frontier of science within a short span. We present a new environmentally friendly approach to study subglacial reservoirs based on the concept of freezing-in instrumented probes carrying a tethering power-signal cable. In January 2022, the probe was successfully tested in East Antarctica: it reached the base of the ice sheet and returned to the ice surface with samples of melted water from the basal ice.
The discovery of polar subglacial lakes, rivers and streams has opened a new frontier of science...