SGER: Engineered Microclimates for Enhanced Biomass Production

提案编号：CBET-0743034主要研究者： 伯格曼，西奥多L.隶属关系： 康涅狄格大学提案标题：SGER：工程微气候增强生物量生产研究的目的是了解生物量如何响应生长和热量适度升高的当地CO2水平，以及生物量如何通过非常复杂的固气耦合反过来影响当地CO2水平。最终，这方面的知识可能会被用于一个计划，以（一）提高生产的生物质的生物燃料内的道路微气候引起的汽车尾气和（二）同时减少平均大气中的二氧化碳水平。关于C3和C4光合作用植物的生长和热响应的详细信息，以控制微气候含有CO2的空间分布在350至约1000 ppm的范围内，将产生使用一种新的实验设施与SGER资金建设。该提案的智力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量生产的挑战，同时减少大气中的平均二氧化碳含量。提出了新的实验，将阐明C4和C3光合作用生物群对美国主要道路沿线目前存在的局部二氧化碳水平升高的反应。（i）在提高生物燃料生产和降低大气中平均二氧化碳水平方面可能给社会带来的惠益，㈡开发一种实验设施，对研究植物科学和工程学不断发展的交叉领域的研究人员有用，（三）通过传统方式传播成果（期刊文章和会议论文）和非传统（研讨会和教科书）是指，和（iv）刺激后续项目，最终将使学生接触国际研究合作，全球参与的学者社区。该设施将在未来用于推广到K-12学生在康涅狄格州的各种推广计划的大学。

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.