SGER: Engineered Microclimates for Enhanced Biomass Production

建议编号：CBET-0743034首席研究员：Bergman，Theodore L.隶属：康涅狄格大学建议标题：SGER：提高生物量生产的工程微气候研究的目的是了解生物质如何在生长和热方面对当地适度升高的二氧化碳水平做出反应，以及生物质反应如何通过非常复杂的固-气耦合反过来影响当地的二氧化碳水平。最终，这一知识可能被用于(I)在汽车尾气引起的道路小气候中增加用于生物燃料的生物质的生产，以及(Ii)同时降低大气平均二氧化碳水平。关于C3和C4光合作用植物对二氧化碳空间分布在350至约1000ppm范围内的受控小气候的生长和热响应的详细信息将使用由SGER资金建造的新型实验设施来生成。该提议的学术价值是为可能部署一种优雅的工程方法奠定基础，以应对增加生物燃料生物质生产的挑战，同时减少大气中的平均二氧化碳含量。提出了一项新的实验，将阐明C4和C3光合作用生物群对目前存在于美国主要道路旁的局部二氧化碳水平上升的反应。更广泛的影响包括：(I)在提高生物燃料产量和降低大气平均二氧化碳水平方面可能对社会有益，(Ii)开发实验设施，将对植物科学和工程不断发展的交叉点的研究人员有用，(Iii)通过传统(期刊文章和会议论文)和非传统(研讨会和教科书)手段传播结果。以及(Iv)促进后续项目，这些项目最终将使学生接触到国际研究合作，以发展一个多元化的、全球参与的学者社区。该设施将在未来用于康涅狄格大学各种外展项目中的K-12学生外展。

Proposal Number: CBET-0743034Principal Investigator: Bergman, Theodore L.Affiliation: University of ConnecticutProposal Title: SGER: Engineered Microclimates for Enhanced Biomass ProductionThe objective of the research is to develop an understanding of how biomass responds growthwise and thermally to moderately-elevated local levels of CO2, and how the biomass response in turn affects local CO2 levels through a very complex solid-gas coupling. Ultimately, this knowledge might be used in a scheme to (i) enhance production of biomass for biofuels within roadway microclimates induced by vehicle exhaust and (ii) simultaneously reduce average atmospheric CO2 levels. Detailed information regarding the growth and thermal response of C3 and C4 photosynthesis plants to controlled microclimates containing CO2 spatial distributions in the range of 350 to about 1000 ppm will be generated using a novel experimental facility to be built with SGER funding. The intellectual merit of the proposal is to lay groundwork for possible deployment of an elegant engineering approach to meet the challenge of increasing biomass production for biofuels while simultaneously reducing average CO2 content of the atmosphere. Novel experimentation is proposed that will shed light on the response of C4 and C3 photosynthesis biota to elevated local CO2 levels that exist today alongside major roadways in the U.S.The broader impacts include: (i) possible benefits to society in terms of enhanced biofuel production and reduced average atmospheric CO2 levels, (ii) development of an experimental facility that will be useful to researchers at the evolving intersection of plant science and engineering, (iii) dissemination of results through traditional (journal article and conference paper) and non-traditional (workshop and textbook) means, and (iv) stimulation of follow-on projects that will ultimately expose students to international research collaboration for the development of a diverse, globally-engaged community of scholars. The facility will be used in the future for outreach to K-12 students in various University of Connecticut outreach programs.