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Newly-funded air-sea gas exchange technology undergoes inaugural tests in Antarctica
11 July 2024
Above: PML’s Ian Brown – Marine Chemist – pictured on the sea-ice on the Weddell Sea with the new technology used to measure the air-sea gas exchange of nitrous oxide and methane through the ice. Can gases be produced in ice?
That’s what our scientists have been trying to uncover in Antarctica, using our new portable system for measuring greenhouse gas fluxes. This work adds to a multitude of other measurements that were underway during the ambitious 30-day PICCOLO expedition in the Southern Ocean – one of the least explored parts of planet earth.
Marine Chemist Ian Brown was testing our system which comprises a Gasmet Fourier Transform Infrared analyser and Eosense automated sampling chamber to measure the emission of nitrous oxide and methane out of the sea-ice.
“This is the first time that we have attempted to measure the air-sea exchange of nitrous oxide and methane through the ice. We think these gases can slowly transfer from water to air, but may also be produced in ice.”
“Both of these gases contribute to greenhouse warming and whilst we have some understanding of the exchange between the ocean and atmosphere in polar waters, our knowledge of the transfer from or through the sea-ice is minimal. By making these measurements we will get closer to being able to account for gas exchange processes in the ice-covered ocean.”
“Our measurements have been supported by additional samples taken from the atmosphere and the seawater below the ice, which we are analysing using our Gas Chromotography in the laboratory, and we hope we will find some answers.”
“We would like to thank the Wolfson Foundation for the funding for this technology, paving the way for new scientific discoveries. And we look forward to reporting on the findings, please keep an eye on our 'News’ page for further updates.”
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Above: the new air-sea gas exchange system