Nu Instruments PERSPECTIVE IRMS

Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth at NBI is one of the leading institutes in ice core climate research. We among other climate parameters specialize in gas measurements. A new window opened with the Green2Ice project where we extend our range of measurements to Ar-Ar for dating and clumped isotopes of oxygen for stratospheric effects on the climate system.

Our present IRMS mass spectrometers are limited in their mass resolution. Therefore, to fulfill the requirements of the Green2Ice project we need a mass spectrometer with higher mass resolution. The main application is Ar-Ar measurements with a 40Aratm precision of 6 ppm or better for dating. Further clumped isotopes of O2. Additionally, Kr/Ar ratios of highest precision to determine mean ocean temperature are planned. We intend to buy 2 specialized instruments of the same basic type; Nu Instruments PERSPECTIVE IRMS

EU HE Green2ICE 123281

One instrument is going to be specifically tuned for Ar-Ar the other one for clumped oxygen. There is agreement in the ice core community that the perspective is the go to instrument for clumped O2 (Yeung, L. Y., E. D. Young, and E. A. Schauble (2012), Measurements of 18O18O and 17O18O in the atmosphere and the role of isotope-exchange reactions, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 117(D18)). It needs less sample than other instruments with unchanged precision. For Ar-Ar we have data from Nu demonstrating the precision required at low sample consumption and much lower costs than competing instruments. The instruments have patented dual inlet system that allows for minimal sample consumption which is crucial to our analyses (UK patent 2520543 B). The mini ESA’s and zoom optics are unique, providing access to a suite of isotope measurements without moving parts.