IceMole: a maneuverable probe for clean in situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial aquatic ecosystems

Title IceMole: a maneuverable probe for clean in situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial aquatic ecosystems
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year
2014
Author(s) Bernd Dachwald , Jill Mikucki, Slawek Tulaczyk, Ilya Digel, Clemens Espe, Marco Feldmann, Gero Francke, Julia Kowalski, Changsheng Xu
Journal/ Publication
Annals of Glaciology
Volume
55
Issue
65
Pagination
14-22
Abstract

There is significant interest in sampling subglacial environments for geobiological studies, but they are difficult to access. Existing ice-drilling technologies make it cumbersome to maintain microbiologically clean access for sample acquisition and environmental stewardship of potentially fragile subglacial aquatic ecosystems. The IceMole is a maneuverable subsurface ice probe for clean in situ analysis and sampling of glacial ice and subglacial materials. The design is based on the novel concept of combining melting and mechanical propulsion. It can change melting direction by differential heating of the melting head and optional side-wall heaters. The first two prototypes were successfully tested between 2010 and 2012 on glaciers in Switzerland and Iceland. They demonstrated downward, horizontal and upward melting, as well as curve driving and dirt layer penetration. A more advanced probe is currently under development as part of the Enceladus Explorer (EnEx) project. It offers systems for obstacle avoidance, target detection, and navigation in ice. For the EnEx-IceMole, we will pay particular attention to clean protocols for the sampling of subglacial materials for biogeochemical analysis. We plan to use this probe for clean access into a unique subglacial aquatic environment at Blood Falls, Antarctica, with return of a subglacial brine sample.

DOI
10.3189/2014AoG65A004
URL
Categories Directional/Replicate Drilling, Fast Access, Hot-Point Drills, Subglacial Access
Citation Bernd Dachwald , Jill Mikucki, Slawek Tulaczyk, Ilya Digel, Clemens Espe, Marco Feldmann, Gero Francke, Julia Kowalski, Changsheng Xu ( 2014 ) IceMole: a maneuverable probe for clean in situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial aquatic ecosystems. Annals of Glaciology , 55 , 65 , 14-22 . doi: 10.3189/2014AoG65A004
Lead Author
Bernd Dachwald