About
UNSW IceLab provides high-precision water chemistry analysis and fluorescence spectrometry capability to analyze dissolved organic matter (DOM) within a dedicated Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) approved quarantine laboratory specifically for water and ice samples from Antarctica.
The facility brings together the BEES Palaeoclimate group (Turney, Fogwill and Thomas), with the Marine (Johnston and Clark) and Fresh Water (Baker) groups, providing a unique resource that will for the first time enable high-precision water and DOM analysis to be undertaken in a quarantine laboratory at UNSW.
The facility provides new capacity in Australia for Antarctic ice and water research, driven by the need to understand bio-markers within the Antarctic ecosystem that can inform on multiple questions, including global ocean and atmospheric circulation change, sea ice variability and anthropogenic forcing of Antarctic ecological change. Preliminary studies have demonstrated a clear signal from this technique even in ancient Antarctic ice collected as a part of our Australian Research Council Linkage Project
The laboratory consists of sealed ice storage, preparation and analysis rooms, which house a number of dedicated preparation facilities and instruments funded by a UNSW Major Research Infrastructure bid (MREII), awarded to the group.
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Key UNSW staff
Dr Chris Fogwill
Prof. Chris Turney
Prof Andy Baker
Prof Emma Jonston
Dr Grame ClarkPostgraduate Researchers
Ms Bethany Ellis
Ms Juee Vohra
Mr Kilian Vos
Ms Helen MillmanCollaborators
Dr Tas van Ommen (Australian Antarctic Division)
Dr Andrew Moy(Australian Antarctic Division)
Dr Mark Curran(Australian Antarctic Division)
Dr David Etheridge (CSIRO)
Dr David Thornton (CSORO)
Dr Mauro Rubino (University of Naples)
Dr Michael Bird (JCU)
Dr Niels Munksgaard (JCU / Charles Darwin University)
Dr Francisco Fernandoy (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile)
Dr Andres Rivera (CECS, Chile)
Prof. Alan Cooper (Adelaide)
Dr Laura Weyrich (Adelaide)
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Water isotope analysis
High precision water isotopes analysis (δD and δ18O) is provided by a Las Gatos Research Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer 24d. The machine provides high sample throughput with replicate standard analyses yielded the following long term precision (1σ,10 runs): Holocene standard: δ18O = -32.79‰ ±0.11, δD = -252.08‰ ±0.73, (n=32) and LGM standard: δ18O = -32.79‰ ±0.10, δ2H = -252.08 ‰ ±0.41 (n=32).
Dissolved organic matter analysis
Florescence analysis in water samples is provided by a Horiba Scientific Aqualog-UV-800-C. Its unique design makes it ideal, being both a high performance research grade spectrometer with a 150W ozone Xe source, that is transportable and field proven.
The use of the instrument represents a new direction in Antarctic ice and water research, driven by the need to understand bio-markers in Antarctica that can inform on global circulation change, sea ice extent and ecological change. Preliminary studies have demonstrated a clear signal from this technique even in ancient Antarctic ice.
In this section
Australasian Biogeography and Natural Classification
Australasian Biogeography and Natural Classification (The Ebach Lab) is a biogeography and systematics research group headed by Dr. Malte C. Ebach.
Geological Evolution, Ore Deposits, Exploration and Energy (GEODEE)
The GEODEE group has been informally running for a number of years and encompasses geological research undertaken at UNSW by current academics, visiting fellows and their students.
Human geography
Human Geography is the human oriented arm of Geography, the study of the earth. In BEES our research includes the study of the earth, particularly during the Anthropocene, communities and cultures.
Palaeoanthropology Research Laboratory (PEARL)
Palaeoanthropology is the scientific investigation of human evolution focusing on evidence provided by the human fossil, archaeological and palaeoecological records.
Palaeoecology Lab
The ESSRC Palaeoecology Lab uses of a variety of palaeoenvironmental techniques to examine climate change/variability, human impacts and ecosystems.
Prehistory and palaeoenvironment of Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific
Our research group is engaged in a field and lab based program investigating the peopling of Sahul, its settlement history, palaeoenvironment and resource use.
Rip current and surf hazard research
Since 2011, Professor Robet Brander along with research colleagues and students within the School of BEES have been working on both physical and social aspects of the beach rip current hazard.
Soil science
The soil science group at UNSW is involved with and interested in the use of ancillary data from remote and proximal soil sensors and their application to digital soil mapping.
The Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre
The Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC) is a network of centralised cutting-edge facilities and expert staff. The Centre's major research facilities are accessible to all staff and students of UNSW, as well as to external researchers.
The PRECISE Network
The potential of regional extreme sea-level rise remains a key socioeconomic uncertainty for millions across the Asia-Pacific region due to the likely impacts on coastal erosion, inundation and for water resource management.
UNSW IceLab
UNSW IceLab provides high-precision water chemistry analysis and fluorescence spectrometry capability to analyze dissolved organic matter (DOM).