Collaborative Research: Development of a Submersible, Autonomous Rn-222 Survey System

合作研究：开发潜水式自主 Rn-222 测量系统

• 批准号: 1029223
• 负责人: Richard Peterson
• 金额: $ 18.16万
• 依托单位: Coastal Carolina University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1029223&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Development; Submersible; Autonomous

The PI's request funding to develop a submersible system capable of in situ 222Rn analysis while deployed from a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) or autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Such a system would allow researchers to conduct high-resolution radon surveying through 3-D grids of bottom water and later return to sites of interest to measure a 222Rn time-series in order to quantify SGD fluxes. The system design relies on a new technique to sparge radon, while submerged, from the water for analysis via bubbling a closed air loop through a contained water column. Preliminary evidence shows this to be a viable approach. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is quickly gaining recognition as an important delivery mechanism of new and recycled nutrients to the coastal ocean. Chemical tracers such as 222Rn and radium isotopes offer excellent utility at detecting groundwater discharge zones and quantifying associated fluxes in nearshore (shallow) waters, but the traditional approaches to sampling and measuring these tracers become progressively less useful as the water column deepens, stratification strengthens, and physical mixing becomes more complex. In deeper waters (1) of the continental shelf where outcropping geological units can focus SGD, and (2) around critical habitats like coral reef ecosystems, one?s ability to measure these tracers is limited to grab sampling-scale resolution. Such resolution is generally not sufficient to understand the pathways, driving forces, and rates of these discharges, nor is it conducive to quantifying associated nutrient delivery fluxes. Prior to assessing the global significance of SGD, then, there exists great need for a tool capable of in situ, continuous measurement of geochemical tracers of SGD in deeper waters of the continental shelf.Broader Impacts: Since this proposed study develops a new research tool available for other scientists, the success of this study will have a large and broad impact on SGD studies in important deep basins, hydrothermal studies quantifying hydrothermal flow, and deep-water circulation and mixing studies using Rn-222 as a tracer. The investigators have included a plan for outreach to sponsor a two-semester, senior Design Clinic team of 3-4 undergraduate female engineering students from Smith College's Picker Engineering Program. This undergraduate team will gain experience working on a real-world engineering problem and this project will likewise benefit from their engineering contribution. Breier has undertaken a similar collaboration with Smith College for the NDSF microbial mat sampler project and the results to both sides have been outstanding. Breier and Singh will also mentor a MIT/WHOI Joint Program Ph.D. student as part of this project, with the hope that one of the Smith College engineering students may make this transition. Peterson will also serve as an undergraduate mentor.

PI的请求资金以开发一种能够从远程操作的车辆（ROV）或自动驾驶水下车辆（AUV）部署时，可以开发能够原位222RN分析的潜水系统。这样的系统将使研究人员能够通过3-D底水网格进行高分辨率ra测量，然后返回感兴趣的地点以测量222rn的时间序列，以量化SGD通量。系统设计依赖于一种新技术来从水中淹没，从水中淹没，以通过包含的水柱冒泡封闭的空气环，以进行分析。初步证据表明这是一种可行的方法。海底地下水出院（SGD）迅速获得了新的和回收的养分的重要递送机制，以供到沿海海洋。化学示踪剂（例如222RN和radium同位素）在检测地下水排放带和量化近岸（浅层）水域的相关通量方面提供了极好的实用性，但是随着水柱深化，物理混合变得更加复杂，采样和测量这些示踪剂的传统方法变得越来越降低。在大陆架的较深水域（1）中，露头地质单元可以集中精力SGD，以及（2）围绕珊瑚礁生态系统等关键栖息地围绕着，一个测量这些示踪剂的能力仅限于抓住抽样规模的分辨率。这种分辨率通常不足以理解这些排放的途径，驱动力和速率，也不有助于量化相关的营养递送通量。 Prior to assessing the global significance of SGD, then, there exists great need for a tool capable of in situ, continuous measurement of geochemical tracers of SGD in deeper waters of the continental shelf.Broader Impacts: Since this proposed study develops a new research tool available for other scientists, the success of this study will have a large and broad impact on SGD studies in important deep basins, hydrothermal studies quantifying hydrothermal flow,以及使用RN-222作为示踪剂的深水循环和混合研究。调查人员为赞助一个两学期，高级设计诊所团队提供了宣传计划，该团队由史密斯学院的Picker工程计划的3-4本科女性工程专业的学生组成。这个本科团队将获得解决现实世界工程问题的经验，该项目同样将从其工程贡献中受益。布雷尔（Breier）与史密斯学院（Smith College）进行了类似的合作，用于NDSF微生物MAT Sampler项目，双方的结果表现出色。 Breier和Singh还将指导MIT/WHOI联合计划博士学位。作为该项目的一部分，学生希望其中一位史密斯学院工程专业的学生可以进行这种过渡。彼得森还将担任本科导师。