Subglacial waters and water bodies have received increased attention as factors in ice dynamics (Reference ClarkeClarke, 2005), as sites of organic carbon processing under continental ice sheets during glacial intervals (Reference ZengZeng, 2003; Reference Skidmore, Anderson, Sharp, Foght and LanoilSkidmore and others, 2005), and as microbial habitats analogous to environments on Mars and some icy satellites in the outer solar system (Reference Gaidos, Lanoil, Thorsteinsson, Graham and SkidmoreGaidos and others, 2004). We have designed, constructed and tested a novel device to retrieve subglacial water samples. The sampler is designed to operate in the narrow boreholes made by thermal or conventional drilling, and to retrieve a watertight and gas-tight sample from a specified water depth above the bottom of the hole or glacier bed. The device operates without electrical power, sensors, or communication with the surface, and is ideal for environments where robust but low-complexity solutions to sampling are required.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the sampler, along with a picture taken immediately before its deployment into a borehole. Our device consists of: a sample chamber (A) open at both ends; a closure mechanism comprising two conical end-plugs (B) connected by a pulley-and-cable system (C) and driven by two coil springs (D); a triggering mechanism consisting of a spring-loaded ratchet (E) held closed by tension on a line (F) below which is suspended a weight (G);and a load-bearing frame (H) which runs from the attachment point to the deployment cable to the triggering device beneath the sample bottle. Water flows freely through the chamber during descent to the sampling depth. The chamber is sealed when the weight touches the bottom and tension on the line is removed. Thus the sampling depth relative to the bottom is set by the length of the line to the weight, which can be varied. The chamber remains closed when tension is reapplied during retrieval. The sampler has a maximum diameter of 4 cm and the length (without the line and weight) is 185 cm.

Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of the subglacial water sampler (see text for details, labelled A–P), and photograph taken immediately before deployment in the borehole.

The 400 mL sample chamber is fabricated from poly- vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and is resistant to many chemical treatments, including 5.25% NaOH (bleach) which we use for sterilization and DNA decontamination. A sampling port (I) and inlet (J) in the wall of the sampler are plugged by 1/4-20 screws. After sample retrieval, the plugs are removed and replaced by valved HPLC fittings through which the sample is extracted. The conical end-plugs are also constructed of PVDF and fitted with rubber O-rings. The plugs are closed by stainless-steel coil springs, the bottom one via a plastic driver (K) that is in turn connected to the triggering mechanism through a brass actuator bar (L). One side of the spring is stopped by a plastic spacer (M), the length of which can be adjusted to achieve the desired closure force. The trigger assembly consists of a brass ratchet (E) that rocks about a fixed pin and hooks onto the actuator bar. The sampler is open when the actuator bar is held by the ratchet. The force of a coil spring (N) to move the ratchet open and release the actuator bar is opposed by the tension on the line (F) to the weight (G). Removal of the tension releases the actuator and closes the chamber. The weight is a 4.5 kg cast-iron bar wrapped in waterproof tape. A 60 cm shock cord (O) is included in the line to eliminate spurious triggering of the closure mechanism during deployment. The external frame (H) consists of four C203 stainless-steel bands of 0.6 mm thickness, to which the sampler components are fastened.

The device is deployed at the end of the hot-water hose used for drilling. Connection is provided by a 0.25 in (~0.63 cm) male BSP fitting at the top of the frame. The sampler is suspended above the borehole on a winch and the weight is deployed into the hole to achieve tension on the trigger line. A cocking key (P) is inserted into the spring- loaded lower end-plug driver piece to move it into the open position until the actuator bar is latched into the ratchet. The sampler is then deployed into the hole with minimum disturbance. In June 2006 we tested this device on the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland, and successfully retrieved a water sample from the subglacial lake in the western Skaftarkátlar volcanic region. The ice thickness at this location is 300 m and the lake depth is another 115 m (as determined by a pressure sensor-equipped cable). The hydrology, geochemistry and biology of the lake as inferred from this sample and additional measurements will be discussed elsewhere (Gaidos and others, unpublished information). The sample was anoxic, sulfidic and gas- charged: degassing (presumed to be CO2) was observed upon retrieval of the sample, and a strong sulfide smell remained in the closed sampler for 48 hours after sample retrieval and processing. These observations confirm that the sampler remained gas-tight during retrieval.

A limitation of this design was its tendency to snag in the borehole during retrieval. We think this problem was due to a combination of: (1) the length of the chamber (driven by the sample volume requirements);(2) the length and stiffness of the weight;and (3) protruding connections in the sampler chain. We recommend the following modifications to the original sampler design: replacement of the stiff weight with a longer, flexible hose filled with lead shot;streamlining or removal of cable connectors;and the use of flush, flathead screws on all exterior locations.

Several borehole bailers are available commercially; however, these are usually based on the principle of hydraulic closure during ascent (e.g. by ball valves). These suffer from loss of gas or sample, lack of containment, and inability to specify sampling depth. A programmable, pressure-triggered sampler offers precise control of sampling but is costlier and requires a priori knowledge of depths, as well as electronics housing and interface equipment. Our design is an intermediate solution in terms of cost and complexity.