The gas equilibrium membrane inlet mass spectrometry (GE-MIMS) method for dissolved-gas quantification was expanded to work in water at high pressures.

Soil moisture monitoring is important for many applications, from improving weather prediction to supporting agriculture practices. Our capability to measure this variable is still, however, limited. In this study, we show the tests conducted on a new soil moisture sensor at several locations. The results show that the new sensor is a valid and compact alternative to more conventional, non-invasive soil moisture sensors that can pave the way for a wide range of applications.

Data recorded with transient electromagnetics are typically gated to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Gating corresponds to low-pass filtering of data with the shape of the gate giving the frequency response. We show that standard gate shapes can lead to significant correlation between gates caused by distortion from VLF radios. A multi-objective cost function is used to select optimum gate shapes with less influence from radio noise. Performance is demonstrated using synthetic and field data.

Magnetic field measurements in space can be contaminated by stray magnetic fields from their host satellite. We present an automated tool for measuring the magnetic field generated by potential satellite and instrument components to identify those that may degrade the measurements taken on orbit. This tool is designed for use by the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) Small Explorers mission and is currently being used for mission design activities.

Manual chambers for soil respiration monitoring can be cost-effective yet rather accurate devices. The described chamber is relatively low in cost and entirely built from commercial parts, which makes it very accessible for almost everybody. Our chamber is robust, simple to operate, and very suitable for a large-scale punctual campaign and for educational purposes. Oxygen sensors bring some more insights into our soil respiration understanding.

Research data resulting from geoscientific laboratory methods comprise multiple types and formats. A diversity of Earth system science fuels are needed to make research data available to scientists beyond a particular discipline. Global working groups define standards and create tools to improve research data handling in general. Adaption of these solutions to the needs of the geoscientific disciplines is vital to enable the development of a widely applicable geoscientific laboratory database.

Natural gas hydrate (GH) is a significant potential energy source. However, the gas production rate of past GH production tests is much lower than the requirement of commercial gas production. Reservoir stimulation technologies like hydraulic fracture provide one potential approach to enhance gas production from GH. This paper presents an experimental facility that was developed to analyze the hydraulic fracture mechanism in a synthesized hydrate-bearing sediments.

Heat storage in the soil is difficult to measure due to vertical heterogeneity. To improve measurements, we designed a 3D-printed probe that uses fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing to measure a vertical profile of soil temperature. We validated the temperature measurements against standard instrumentation. With the high-resolution data we were able to determine the thermal diffusivity of the soil at a resolution of 2.5 cm, which is much higher compared to traditional methods.

We have developed a novel flexible measurement array for deep landslide displacement and measurement processes, which enables higher accuracy in full-hole multidimensional deformation measurement. It provides a more comprehensive monitoring tool for disaster prevention and reduction.

We developed a serialized small-diameter hydraulic fracturing in situ stress measurement system, which enables series measurement of small-sized boreholes for in situ stress and has the advantage of a simple and lightweight structure, short testing time, high success rate, and low requirements for rock integrity and pressurization equipment. This system has important practical value and economic significance for accurately determining the in situ stress state of deep development areas.

Much of the world relies on groundwater as a water resource, yet it is hard to know when and where rainfall replenishes our groundwater aquifers. Caves, mines, and tunnels that are situated above the groundwater table are unique observatories of water transiting from the land surface to the aquifer. This paper will show how networks of loggers deployed in these underground spaces across Australia have helped understand when, where, and how much rainfall is needed to replenish the groundwater.

We present the experimental results of a new copper-based alloy suitable for use in high-precision magnetic sensing. It outperforms by providing lower magnetic noise and superior power consumption. Prototype sensors constructed from this material can meet an exacting standard, the 2012 1 s INTERMAGNET standard, for magnetic observatories.

Low-cost sensors could fill gaps in existing observation networks. To ensure data quality, the quality of the factory calibration of a given sensor has to be evaluated if the sensor is used out of the box. Here, the factory calibration of a widely used low-cost rain gauge type has been tested both in the lab (66) and in the field (20). The results of the study suggest that the calibration of this particular type should at least be checked for every sensor before being used.

The paper discusses the accuracy of the scalar magnetometer on board the scientific satellite mission Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer of the European Space Agency. A novel method is described which utilises experiments, performed with a coil system in a geomagnetic observatory, and a mathematical data processing approach to separate the systematic errors of the coil system from the systematic error of the magnetometer. With this, the paper shows that the instrument’s accuracy is below 0.2 nT (1σ).

In an airborne survey, dynamic flight conditions cause unequal data levels, which have a serious impact on airborne geophysical data analysis and interpretation. A new technique is proposed to level geophysical data, and we confirm the reliability of the method by applying it to magnetic data and apparent conductivity data. The method can automatically extract the levelling errors without the participation of staff members or tie line control.