RvG-ASIC

The Roland von Glasow Air-Sea-Ice Chamber (RvG-ASIC) facility at the University of East Anglia (UEA) comprises a coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea-ice simulation chamber designed to investigate the role of first-year sea-ice in tropospheric chemistry. The temperature of the chamber can be controlled within the range –55 to +30 °C, with a stability of ±0.3 °C.

The chamber can also be run in ocean-atmosphere mode (above –2 ºC), snow-atmosphere mode (no liquid water) or in dry mode for purely atmospheric investigations. It therefore provides a platform for a diverse range of multi-disciplinary experiments to study physical, chemical and biological between interactions between atmosphere, ocean, ice and snow.

The chamber comprises a glass tank "ocean" (2.4 m × 1.4 m × 1.1 m; 3.5 m³ water volume) with a removable FEP film-enclosed "atmosphere" above (2.4 m × 1.4 m × (0.1–1 m); 0.3 to 3.3 m³ air volume). The "ocean" is equipped with a wave generator and circulation pump. Controlled illumination is provided by sun-simulating LED bands and UVA and UVB fluorescent light tubes (280 to 700 nm). All light sources can be adjusted individually. In situ actinic fluxes can be measured with a 2π spectral radiometer.

The facility is equipped with a range of analytical instruments for atmosphere, ice and ocean. In the atmosphere, gas mole fractions of CH₄, CO₂, H₂O, O₃, NO_x, NO and NO₂ can be measured continuously, together with temperature, humidity and wind speed. The ocean is sampled with conductivity-temperature (CT) probes. A "salinity harp" can be used to obtain CT profiles in ice and across the ice-ocean interface. Additional pressure (stress) and UV-VIS light sensors (fibre-optic tree) measure in ice at 1-2 cm depth intervals.

Post-experiment sampling and analysis are possible through ice-core and ice block section collection, via a field-deployable ice corer, a bandsaw and a microtome for thin sections. For chemical analyses of ice, a H₂O₂ chemiluminescence analyser and optical absorption spectrometer are available.

All data are centrally collected on a dedicated data acquisition and visualisation server. Two camera systems above and below water provide time-lapse photography and continuous video feeds.

Full access to the RvG-ASIC, including:
- induction to chamber and all instruments
- training on data acquisition and visualisation server
- preparatory work (e.g. chamber filling, cleaning, emptying, installation of atmospheric enclosure)

10 days per experiment, including 3 days for set up and ice-growth, 5 days experiment and 2 days clean-up / packing up / data distribution. Variations may occur, depending on starting conditions required and how much ice is required to be grown.

Please contact the facility prior to access application to discuss required access periods for specific experiment conditions.

RvG-ASIC is mainly used for academic research, but there are opportunities for industrial users / SMEs for sensor and other equipment testing in a variety of extreme polar and ocean simulated conditions, e.g. In / under ice, cold seawater or freshwater, cold atmospheric conditions, under natural lighting conditions or enhanced UV conditions.

Prof. Jan Kaiser, Professor of Biogeochemistry j.kaiser@uea.ac.uk

Volume: Glass tank, maximum capacity: 3500 litres of water

Width: 1.38 m

Depth: 1.1 m

Length: 2.4 m Maximum atmospheric enclosure size: 1 m x 2.4 m x 1.38 m 

tank mixing time τ = (4.2±0.1) min

coldroom air-exchange time τ = (0.66±0.07) d

Thomas M, France J, Crabeck O, Hall B, Hof V, Notz D, Rampai T, Riemenschneider L, Tooth OJ, Tranter M, Kaiser J (2021) The Roland von Glasow Air-Sea-Ice Chamber (RvG-ASIC): an experimental facility for studying ocean–sea-ice–atmosphere interactions Atmos Meas Tech 14:1833 10.5194/amt-14-1833-2021.