Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF)

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
What the facility does

Arctic sea ice and climate change research.

Areas of expertise

The Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF) is the first experimental sea ice facility in Canada, capable of growing various types of sea ice under controlled conditions for the study of sea ice properties and processes across the ocean-sea ice-atmosphere interfaces.

Research services

Creation of various types of sea ice, remote sensing techniques, sea ice geophysical and biogeochemical analysis, oil-sea ice interactions, developing and testing of marine, cryospheric, or sub-zero temperature technologies

Sectors of application
  • Aerospace and satellites
  • Arts and cultural industries
  • Chemical industries
  • Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
  • Defence and security industries
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Environmental technologies and related services
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Information and communication technologies and media
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Mining, minerals and metals
  • Ocean industries
  • Policy and governance
  • Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Equipment

Function

Sea ice pool

An outdoor pool that allows us to growth and melt sea ice under controlled conditions.

Analytical Sciences Thermalox TOC/TN analyzer

Analysis of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) at ultra-low levels in seawater matrix.

LI-COR 8100 CO2 chamber flux system

Real-time measurement of diffusive CO2 flux from water and ice.

mBraun LABmaster SP Glovebox

Creation and maintenance of a controlled environmental for the study of gaseous phase reactions.

C and L band microwave fully polarimetric scatterometers

Determination of the geophysical and thermodynamic evolution of sea ice for calibration to Radarsat II and RCM.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system

Sea Ice surface topography for momentum exchange and radarsat scattering calibration.

Large fiberglass outdoor ice tubs(2)

Study of the transport and degradation of oil and oil products in the sea ice environment.

  • Aarhus University (Denmark)
  • Canadian Ice Service
  • European Space Agency
  • Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
  • Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology
  • University of Calgary
  • Royal Holloway University of London (UK)
  • Roma Tre University (Italy)
  • University of Southern Denmark
  • European Commission Horizon 2020 Program
  • Sapienza University of Rome
  • University College of London

  • Genome Canada

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Title

URL

Arctic sea ice 'frost flowers' in bloom at University of Manitoba lab 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/arctic-sea-ice-frost-flowers-in-bloom-at-university-of-mani…

Manitoba research centre tackles tough questions on vanishing Arctic sea ice 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/manitoba-research-centre-tackles-tough-questions-on-vanishing-arctic-sea-ice/article9848534/

 

The Arctic in a pool: Simulator grows sea ice for research 

http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/28/17135816-the-arctic-in-a-pool-simulator-grows-sea-ice-for-research?lite

 

Fire and Ice – Passion ignites innovative design data

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wangf/ResearchLIFE_issue_9.pdf

 

Unique lab explores mysteries of Arctic sea ice 

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wangf/serf/SERF_globe_and_mail_insert.pdf

 

Researchers bring Arctic to city 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/researchers-bring-arctic-to-city-138997524.html