MRI-R2: Acquisition of Trace Gas and Aerosol Instrumentation for Ecosystem Analysis

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。NSF MRI-R2计划的资金已授予海洋生物实验室（MBL），以支持购买两个坎贝尔科学TGA 200原位痕量气体分析仪系统，用于在现场部署，以及Agilent Technologies G3242 A/G3440 A气相色谱-质谱仪系统，用于分析大气气溶胶中的痕量有机化合物，如植物蜡和微生物细胞碎片。这些仪器提供了关于生态系统新陈代谢的新信息，并对导致生态系统与大气之间净通量的地球化学和生态过程有了新的认识。这些仪器使生态系统中心的科学家能够在整个生态系统过程领域开辟新天地。通常，通量是从小规模测量中推断出来的，通常需要封闭和培养生态系统组成部分（例如，土壤、水），这可能会干扰生物体及其催化的过程，导致不准确的估计。大气由于相对快速的混合而起着积分器的作用，因此，测量物质在一段时间内以及在生态系统上方或顺风处的浓度，就能够估计通量。新仪器用于支持该中心在三个NSF长期生态研究（LTER）站点的研究计划，这些站点位于马萨诸塞州的Plum Island、马萨诸塞州的哈佛森林和AK州的Toolik Lake;在巴西的NSF和NASA支持的项目站点以及非洲的新研究站点。 TGA和GCMS系统直接影响生态系统中心的教育活动。首先，我们的环境科学学期（SES）计划吸引了来自全国各地和世界各地的小学院的本科生，在伍兹霍尔进行密集的“国外学期”计划。SES学生学习陆地和海洋环境科学，进行实地考察，做实验室练习，最后进行独立的研究项目。MBL的教师还参加了几个NSF-REU项目，其中一些与LTER和其他现场有关。这些学生在他们的研究项目中使用新仪器。生态系统中心的科学家还指导布朗-MBL联合博士项目的博士生。 中心的科学家还赞助和指导几个博士后研究员的研究。 最后，新的生态系统一级的通量估计直接关系到新的气候变化政策的形成。 这些研究的数据将通过学生和教师的区域和国家报告以及同行评审的科学期刊传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Funding from the NSF MRI-R2 program has been awarded to the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) to support the purchase of two Campbell Scientific TGA200 in situ trace gas analyzer systems for deployment at field sites and an Agilent Technologies G3242A/G3440A Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer system for analysis of trace organic compounds such as plant waxes and microbe cellular debris in atmospheric aerosols. These instruments provide new information about ecosystem metabolism and new understanding of the biogeochemical and ecological processes that result in net fluxes between ecosystems and the atmosphere. The instruments enable Ecosystems Center scientists to open new ground in the area of whole-ecosystem processes. Typically, fluxes are inferred from small-scale measurements often requiring enclosure and incubation of ecosystem components (e.g., soil, water) that may perturb organisms and the processes they catalyze, resulting in inaccurate estimates. The atmosphere, by virtue of relatively rapid mixing, acts as an integrator, so measuring concentrations of substances over time and above or downwind of ecosystems, enables estimation of fluxes. The new instruments are used to support the Center's research programs at three NSF Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites at Plum Island MA, Harvard Forest, MA and Toolik Lake, AK; at NSF and NASA-supported project sites in Brazil and new research sites in Africa. The TGA and GCMS systems directly impact educational activities in the Ecosystems Center. First, our Semester in Environmental Science (SES) Program draws undergraduates from small colleges around the country and world for an intensive "semester abroad" program in Woods Hole. SES students learn about terrestrial and marine environmental sciences, take field trips, do lab exercises and finally carry out an independent research project. Faculty at the MBL also participate in several NSF-REU programs, some associated with LTER and other field sites. These students employ the new instrumentation in their research projects. Ecosystems Center scientists also mentor PhD students in the Brown-MBL Joint PhD Program. Center scientists also sponsor and direct research by several postdoctoral fellows. Finally, the new, ecosystem-level flux estimates are directly relevant to new climate change policy formation. Data from these studies will be disseminated through regional and national presentations by students and faculty, and through peer-reviewed scientific journals.