Instrumentation for Determining Benthic Oxygen Exchange Rates by Eddy-Correlation with Coordinated Studies of the Oregon Shelf

PIS建议开发一种配备传感器的海底三脚架，通过涡旋相关法测量海底氧交换总量，并通过显微剖面法测量扩散型底栖氧交换和沉积物氧渗透深度。高分辨率数码相机将提供影响通量的沉积物表面积的时间序列图像。新的海底氧交换速率测量系统(BOXER)将在该项目期间以完全自主的模式使用，但如果通过电缆连接到沿海天文台的海底节点，也将被设计为接收电力和传输数据。拳击手的测量将在2008年7月至2009年12月之间至少季节性地进行，但在一年中的部分时间也会在较短的时间范围内进行。通过将这些测量与其他海洋观测和实地项目的网络相协调，PIS将解决这样的假设，即海底交换率是时间可变的，并通过强迫事件，如春季过渡(风)和与上升流事件相关的浮游生物水华的开始(碳通量)，来进行可预测的控制。更广泛的影响这里提出的综合测量，以及与其他以俄勒冈大陆架为重点的项目的联系和合作，将提供关于大陆架氧和碳交换动力学的新的有价值的信息。这项工作代表了使涡旋相关适应长期监测设施的开创性努力，这是深入了解这些重要环境中的季节性要素循环的唯一途径。该项目具有很高的潜力，可以作为学生教育和培训的平台。国际和平研究所在培养优秀科学家方面有着良好的记录。招待REU学生，并将其中一些工作整合到海洋技术课程中，很好地赞扬了标准的研究生培训。

The PIs propose to develop a benthic tripod equipped with sensors to measure total benthic oxygen exchange by eddy-correlation, and diffusive benthic oxygen exchange and sediment oxygen penetration depth by microprofiling. A high resolution digital camera will provide time-series images of the sediment surface area that contributes to the flux. The new system for measuring Benthic OXygen Exchange Rate (BOXER) will be utilized in a completely autonomous mode during this project but will also be designed to receive power and transmit data if connected through cables to a benthic node of a coastal observatory. BOXER measurements will be performed at least seasonally between July 2008 and December 2009, but also over shorter time-scales during parts of the year. By coordinating these measurements with a network of other oceanographic observations and field programs, The PIs will address the hypothesis that benthic exchange rates are temporally variable and controlled predictably by forcing events such as the spring transition (wind) and onset of plankton blooms associated with upwelling events (carbon flux). Broader ImpactsThe combined measurements proposed here and the connection to and collaboration with other projects focusing on the Oregon Continental Shelf will provide new valuable information on the oxygen and carbon exchange dynamics for the Shelf. This work represent a pioneering effort in adapting eddy-correlation to long term monitoring facilities, which is the only way to get in depth insight on seasonal element cycling in these important environments. The project has high potential to serve as a platform for education and training of students. The PI has an excellent track record of training excellent scientists. Hosting REU students and integrating some of this work into a marine technology class nicely compliment the standard graduate training.