In-Situ Chemical Sensors for Monitoring the Chemistry of Hydrothermal Vent Fluids at Mid-Ocean Ridges: Instrument Development and Field Applications

摘要：丁（0525907）智力优点：测量和监测极端环境中沃茨化学变化的能力是一项重大的技术和科学挑战。 这项研究继续努力开发，校准，测试和部署现场电化学传感器，用于pH值，温度和重要的氢和含硫氧化还原化合物，目标是生产一种可用于长期监测热液喷口化学的仪器包在大洋中脊。 该仪器的原型测试已经成功，并在真实的时间内测量了从高温和低温扩散流喷口散发的沃茨的原位pH值和H2和H2S浓度。 这项工作将扩大传感器阵列的监测能力，并提高其在海底长期部署的物理坚固性。 实地试验地点将是东太平洋海隆的高温和低温扩散流喷口以及大西洋中脊迷城或彩虹地点的低温喷口。 将对固态pH传感器进行传感器材料特性的长期实验室测试，并将广泛传播测试结果，以建立用户基础。 具体的项目目标包括对目前的高温传感器进行现场计算机控制校准，并开发一种固态pH传感器，这种传感器更适合在pH值高和生物活跃的热液喷口地区长期使用。该计划的第一年将致力于现有化学传感器系统的技术升级。 传感器包的实地部署和测试将在第二年和第三年在EPR 9 N和MAR热液站点使用潜水器和/或ROV进行。更广泛的影响：这项工作为明尼苏达大学的研究人员和学生提供资金。 更广泛的影响包括新的传感器/工具的开发和工具在以前过于恶劣的环境中的应用，如温度，压力，腐蚀性化学和/或生物污垢，无法现场取样和测量。 因此，这项工作加强了海洋科学界现有的研究基础设施，特别是在对与大洋中脊能量和质量转移有关的内在动态过程进行关键的时间序列测量方面。

Abstract: Ding (0525907)Intellectual Merit: The ability to measure and monitor changes in the chemistry of waters from extreme environments is a major technological and scientific challenge. This research continues an ongoing effort to develop, calibrate, test, and deploy in situ electrochemical sensors for pH, temperature, and important Hydrogen and sulfur-bearing redox compounds, with the goal of producing an instrument package that can be used for long term monitoring of hydrothermal vent chemistry at mid-ocean ridges. Prototype testing of the instrument has been successful and measured, in real time, the in situ pH and H2 and H2S concentrations of waters emanating from high and low temperature, diffuse-flow vents. This work will extend the monitoring capabilities of the sensor array and increase its physical robustness for long-term deployment on the seafloor. Field test sites will be high temperature and low temperature diffuse flow vents on the East Pacific Rise and low temperature vents at Lost City or the Rainbow site on the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Long-term lab testing of the material properties of the sensors will be carried out for the solid-state pH sensor and results will be disseminated widely to build a user base. Specific project goals include in-situ computer controlled calibration of the present high temperature sensor package and the development of a solid-state pH sensor, which is better suited for long-term use in high pH and biologically active hydrothermal vent areas. The first year of the program will be devoted to technical upgrades of the present chemical sensor system. Field deployments and testing of the sensor packages will take place in years two and three at the EPR 9N and MAR hydrothermal sites using submersibles and/or ROVs.Broader Impacts: This work funds researchers and students at the University of Minnesota. Broader impacts consist of new sensor/tool development and application of the tools in environments previously too hostile, in terms of temperature, pressure, corrosive chemistry and/or biofouling, to be sampled and measured in-situ. As such, this work enhances research infrastructure available to the ocean sciences community, especially with regard to making crucial time series measurements of inherently dynamical processes linked to energy and mass transfer at mid-ocean ridges.