title: Invited article: SUBGLACIOR: an optical analyzer embedded in an Antarctic ice probe for exploring the past climate.
abstract: This article describes the advances made in the development of a specific optical spectrometer based on the Optical Feedback-Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy technique for exploring past climate by probing the original composition of the atmosphere stored in the ice sheet of a glacier. Based on significant technological progresses and unconventional approaches, SUBGLACIOR will be a revolutionary tool for ice-core research: the optical spectrometer, directly embedded in the drilling probe, will provide in situ real-time measurements of deuterium isotopic variations (δ(2)H ) and CH4 concentrations down to 3500 m of ice depth within a single Antarctic season. The instrument will provide simultaneous and real-time vertical profiles of these two key climate signatures in order to evaluate if a target site can offer ice cores as old as 1.5 million years by providing direct insight into past temperatures and climate cycles. The spectrometer has a noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 2.8 × 10(-10) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2), corresponding to a detection limit of 0.2 ppbv for CH4 and a precision of 0.2‰ on the δ(2)H of H2O within 1 min acquisition time.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.affiliation: CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marrocco
authors.affiliation: CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Desbois
authors.affiliation: DT INSU CNRS, Bât. IPEV BP 74, Technopole Brest Iroise, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guillerm
authors.affiliation: CNRS, LGGE, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Triest
authors.affiliation: CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kerstel
authors.affiliation: CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romanini