Volume 205, Issue 2 p. 118-124

A technique for the examination of polar ice using the scanning electron microscope

P. R. F. Barnes

Corresponding Author

P. R. F. Barnes

British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environmental Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, U.K.

P. R. F. Barnes. Tel. :+44 (0)1223 221308; fax: +44 (0)1223 221279; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
R. Mulvaney

R. Mulvaney

British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environmental Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, U.K.

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E. W. Wolff

E. W. Wolff

British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environmental Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, U.K.

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K. Robinson

K. Robinson

Present address: LEO Electron Microscopy, Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 3QH, U.K.

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First published: 05 March 2002
Citations: 36

Summary

The microstructure and location of impurities in polar ice are of great relevance to ice core studies. We describe a reliable method to examine ice in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Specimens were cut in a cold room and could have their surfaces altered by sublimation either before (pre-etching) or after (etching) introduction to the cryo-chamber of the SEM. Pre-etching was used to smooth surfaces, whilst etching stripped away layers from the specimen surface, aiding the location of particles in situ, and allowing embedded structures to be revealed. X-ray analysis was used to determine the composition of localized impurities, which in some cases had been concentrated on the surface by etching. Examining uncoated surfaces was found to be advantageous and did not detract from qualitative X-ray analysis. Imaging uncoated was performed at low accelerating voltages and probe currents to avoid problems of surface charging.

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