Unveiling frozen secrets in the ice lab
“Try peeling an egg in -25°C while wearing ski gloves. That's how it feels sometimes when you do research here,” says Mark Peternell, Senior Lecturer in Structural Geology at the University of Gothenburg and manager of the Ice and Microplastics Laboratory.
His lab analyzes microplastic pollution in Swedish rivers and lakes, as well as the structure and quality of lake ice under climate change. Wrapped in foil packages, ice cores and ice lumps from different parts of the world are stored here in freezers. Mark Peternell opens one of the freezers and takes out an ice core from one of Europe's largest glaciers, Vatnajökull in Iceland. Underneath the glacier are several volcanoes. Traces of centuries-old volcanic ash are frozen into the ice lump.
“This sample is used in a project where we investigate how glacier ice forms from snow, overlying pressure and time. We want to find out how small particles, such as ashes or microplastic, impact the natural formation of glacier ice.”
The freezer once contained an artificial ice core transported all the way from Australia for analysis.
“It was one of the “coolest” samples yet. It was transported to my laboratory in a special container at -150°C,” Mark Peternell says. “But really, the most interesting ice sample is always the one I'm currently working on. Right now, it's an ice core from a Swedish lake.“
Demanding lab environment
The temperature in the cold room varies between -18°C to -25°C depending on the project. The noise from two powerful cooling units is constant. Thanks to these units, the air is kept cold and dry around the clock. Protective clothing is a must; insulated shoes and trousers, a warm hat and sturdy thermal gloves.
“Otherwise, you risk hypothermia which can have serious health consequences.”
There are no windows in the cold room, only one door for entrance and exit.
“This is not a pleasant place to be in if you suffer from claustrophobia.”
Stable clear lake ice on the decrease
A recent study conducted in the ice lab showed that global warming is making Swedish sea ice weaker. A rapid decrease in stable clear ice has put ice safety on the agenda. Mark Peternell recommendation is to continuously monitor the ice quality on Swedish lakes. Also, the general public needs to be kept well informed about safety risks.
“Experienced skaters usually know how to assess ice conditions. I am more concerned about those who are inexperienced and spontaneously go out on the ice on a sunny winter day without being prepared, he says.”
Melting glaciers and microplastics
In another study, the researchers analyzed how microplastics are transported in the atmosphere to remote environments. Certain fiber forms, polyester compositions, as well as red, blue and transparent colors were found to be more prevalent. The researchers don’t know for sure yet but suspect three factors play a role: global wind pattern, size and shape of the plastic matter and availability.
“Not all particle geometries travel equally well through the air, Mark Peternell explains. Plastic used outdoors is also more likely to make its way into the atmosphere than plastic used indoors. Some types of plastic are also produced far more than others.”
Currently, he is studying how and in what quantities microplastics accumulate in lake and glacier ice.
“There’s a real danger that, as glaciers and ice sheets continue to melt, large amounts of microplastics - trapped there for decades - will be released into the environment. This is something we will continue to study here in the lab.”
For further information about this research, please contact:
Mark Peternell, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, e-mail: mark.peternell@gu.se
