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Sandia sensors to make climate study more advanced and reliable

Climate models have always given us a variety of conclusions because fact gathering procedures have been uncertain and unreliable. All this happens with unpredictable variations like wind direction, season and gas content. Also the gas samples collected may evaporate even before analysis takes place. To add to these woos, it is difficult to distribute sensors since they are expensive, heavy and fragile. Sandia National Labs claims to have developed a transformational technology in the form of air samplers that are the size of an ear plug and will cheaply and effectively collect atmospheric samples.

Miniature Sandia sensors may advance climate studies

The Sandia ear plug size samplers will have an inexpensive silvery microvalve and solder connectors that will hang down and sample the gases that are relevant to climate. As off now this prototype rests on a mirror and reflects the Albuquerque weather. The microvalve will be situated above the sample chamber and employ a commonly used alloy. When heated, this alloy (solder) will melt and flow to block the hole inlet. On cooling it will resolidify and form an impermeable block to seal the gases and prevent them from evaporating.

The non contaminating nature of the design helps it meet all technical requirements. These new microvalve sensors are lightweight, sturdy and also inexpensive; therefore, widespread distribution and application should not pose a problem. It will efficiently take in gas within seconds through its extremely tiny hole, the diameter of which is not more than three human hair combined together.

Via: Sandia

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