SGER: Engineered Microclimates for Enhanced Biomass Production

提案编号：cbet -0743034项目负责人：Bergman， Theodore l .合作院校：康涅狄格大学提案标题：SGER：用于增强生物质生产的工程微气候本研究的目的是了解生物质如何对适度升高的局部二氧化碳水平做出生长和热响应，以及生物质响应如何反过来通过非常复杂的固-气耦合影响局部二氧化碳水平。最终，这些知识可能会被用于(i)在汽车尾气引起的道路小气候中提高生物燃料的生物量生产，（ii）同时降低大气平均二氧化碳水平。关于C3和C4光合作用植物的生长和热响应的详细信息，将在控制的小气候中包含350至约1000 ppm的二氧化碳空间分布，将使用SGER资助建造的一个新的实验设施。该提案的智力价值在于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。新的实验提出，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当地二氧化碳水平升高的反应。更广泛的影响包括：(i)在提高生物燃料生产和降低大气平均二氧化碳水平方面可能给社会带来的好处；（ii）开发一个实验设施，对研究植物科学和工程不断发展的交叉领域的研究人员有用；（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；（iv）鼓励后续项目，最终使学生接触到国际研究合作，以发展一个多样化的、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的K-12学生。

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.