Physikalische Planetologie
Extase - Experimentelle Thermalsonde für die Anwendung in der Schneeforschung und den
Erdwissenschaften
Extase - Experimental Thermal probe for Applications in Snow research and Earth
Sciences
Basing on the MUPUS thermal probe (part of the ESA Rosetta-Mission) we are developing a new complete
system for near-surface thermal measurements at the Institut für Planetologie. The system consists of
thermal probe(s), electronics and user software for applications in several disciplines of Geosciences (e.g. Soil
Science, Snow research...).
The probe is a glass-fibre tube of one cm diameter, about 32 cm long and carries 16 sensors for measuring
temperature profiles. Each of the sensors can also be heated for in situ measurements of the thermal diffusivity
of the penetrated layers, from which we can derive the thermal conductivity. All necessary connections and the
sensors itself are printed on a foil which is rolled and glued to the inner wall of the tube. One electronic box can
handle up to four thermal probes at the same time and is controlled via PC either by cable connection or by RF
link. The software, which is still under development, will control all functions of a measurement and will also be
suitable for the first analysis of data and also for generating reports. This design results in the significant
advantage that the measurements can be done in-situ.
Major
advantages of this type of probe are:
- no need to excavate material
- minimized influence of the probe on the temperature field
- minimized modification of the microstructure (thermal conductivity) of the studied
medium
- good thermal contact
- very accurate results
- easy handling.
Some of the planned or already realized applications are:
- Observation of temperature and thermal conductivity profiles in different materials (soil, snow,...) in the lab as
well as under natural conditions
- Snow and Ice Science (temperature and thermal conductivity profiles, avalanche research, heat flux...)
- Soil Science (temperature and thermal conductivity profiles, heat flux, thermal conductivity as a measure for
soil humidity...)
- Observation of the intrusion of the daily heat wave into the underground
- Freezing and thawing behaviour of lakes (in the lab and natural environment)
- Observation of the Solid State Greenhouse Effect in the lab (Plabetary science)
- Control of the heat flux during decomposition on waste deposits
- and many more
During the development of the measurement system and after completion of the hardware several tests in
different materials and environments have been made. They include measurements under natural conditions,
e.g., in soil (in Tübingen, Warsaw, and Lublin, in cooperation with the University of Tübingen,
Space Research Centre, Warsaw, and Institute for Agrophysics, Lublin), in snow and ice (on
Svalbard/Spitzbergen, in cooperaton with the Alfred-Wegener Institut). Furthermore, several tests in the
laboratory have been made to analyze space equivalent materials (in Graz in cooperation with the Institut
für Weltraumforschung and also in Berlin at the Institut für Planetenforschung of the DLR).
Beteiligte Wissenschaftler:
Veröffentlichungen 2003:
Veröffentlichungen 2004:
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