Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research
Perennial ice can be studied for many purposes, including paleoclimate records or rheological properties. For most of those purposes, the ice microstructure must be studied, often through optical microscopy. The aim of this work is to assess the viability of immersion microscopy for the study of ice...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
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| Series: | Annals of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0260305523000745/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797364754098946048 |
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| author | Bittor Muniozguren-Arostegi Patricia Muñoz-Marzagon Sérgio Henrique Faria |
| author_facet | Bittor Muniozguren-Arostegi Patricia Muñoz-Marzagon Sérgio Henrique Faria |
| author_sort | Bittor Muniozguren-Arostegi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Perennial ice can be studied for many purposes, including paleoclimate records or rheological properties. For most of those purposes, the ice microstructure must be studied, often through optical microscopy. The aim of this work is to assess the viability of immersion microscopy for the study of ice microstructures. It consists of using an oil between the objective lens and the specimen, to increase image resolution. Immersion microscopy is a technique well-developed for the investigation of diverse materials, but it has so far not been explored for ice research. Here we investigate the challenges and advantages of that technique. The main challenge is related to the selection of the immersion oil itself, which must satisfy a number of criteria, ranging from refractive index and viscosity to toxicity and reactivity. We identify pure silicone oil (dimethicone) as a simple and safe option for immersion microscopy of inner ice structures. Among its advantages, it provides higher resolution (compared to standard ‘dry’ microscopy) and it can be simultaneously used as a long-term coating to prevent undesired sublimation of the ice-sample surfaces. For the observation of surface structures, however, another type of oil with higher refractive index should be used. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:39:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ecaef82faa464cca99315e435c18f828 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0260-3055 1727-5644 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:39:39Z |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecaef82faa464cca99315e435c18f8282024-01-05T10:52:56ZengCambridge University PressAnnals of Glaciology0260-30551727-56441710.1017/aog.2023.74Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice researchBittor Muniozguren-Arostegi0Patricia Muñoz-Marzagon1Sérgio Henrique Faria2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8825-7518Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), 48940 Leioa, SpainBasque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), 48940 Leioa, SpainBasque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), 48940 Leioa, Spain IKERBASQUE Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Basque Country, SpainPerennial ice can be studied for many purposes, including paleoclimate records or rheological properties. For most of those purposes, the ice microstructure must be studied, often through optical microscopy. The aim of this work is to assess the viability of immersion microscopy for the study of ice microstructures. It consists of using an oil between the objective lens and the specimen, to increase image resolution. Immersion microscopy is a technique well-developed for the investigation of diverse materials, but it has so far not been explored for ice research. Here we investigate the challenges and advantages of that technique. The main challenge is related to the selection of the immersion oil itself, which must satisfy a number of criteria, ranging from refractive index and viscosity to toxicity and reactivity. We identify pure silicone oil (dimethicone) as a simple and safe option for immersion microscopy of inner ice structures. Among its advantages, it provides higher resolution (compared to standard ‘dry’ microscopy) and it can be simultaneously used as a long-term coating to prevent undesired sublimation of the ice-sample surfaces. For the observation of surface structures, however, another type of oil with higher refractive index should be used.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0260305523000745/type/journal_articleice and climateice dynamicsice physics |
| spellingShingle | Bittor Muniozguren-Arostegi Patricia Muñoz-Marzagon Sérgio Henrique Faria Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research Annals of Glaciology ice and climate ice dynamics ice physics |
| title | Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research |
| title_full | Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research |
| title_fullStr | Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research |
| title_short | Development of a low-temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research |
| title_sort | development of a low temperature immersion microscopy technique for ice research |
| topic | ice and climate ice dynamics ice physics |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0260305523000745/type/journal_article |
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