On the Design of Accurate Spatial and Temporal Temperature Measurements in Sea Ice

Abstract

Studies on sea ice have become increasingly popular among researchers in the last decades, due to its effect on the global climate and the challenges it presents for arctic engineering. The research is in demand of reliable data acquisition on various properties, in this case the temperature gradient in forming sea ice.This project continues the development of a spatial temperature instrument, which intends to provide measurements with an accuracy of 0.01°C, making the researchers able to distinguish between fine variations in melting point due to salinity.The outcome of the project is a complete revision of the probe design, which according to simulations not until now provides an environment for the sensor array that satisfies the accuracy requirement. The design also combines the low thermal resistance between sensor and medium from an earlier steel probe with the low thermal interference of an insulating plastic probe.Manufacturing and assembly of the updated temperature instrument with a new probe is almost finished, and should after completion provide experimental data to back up the claims made by the simulations.