MRI:RAPID: Gulf Oil Spill Instrument Acquisition for Fluorometric Detection of Underwater Oil and Soluble VOCs

PI要求MRI RAPID资助购买一台荧光分光光度计，用于测量地下石油的多光谱荧光特性，并购买一台挥发性有机碳分析仪，用于在即将进行的海洋学巡航期间测量地下羽流中的VOC。这两种仪器都是正确校准和地面实况其他用于研究石油泄漏的荧光仪器所必需的。这些仪器的一个主要好处是能够在船上近实时地提供对石油性质和成分的快速和详细分析。此外，PI？我们要求一个专用的APEX剖面仪与紫外荧光，粒子后向散射，和氧传感器，以监测地下烟羽自主期间和之后的巡航。这项请求中的仪器将在即将进行的一次由快速发展方案供资的研究航行中部署，以便利用先进激光荧光计研究与石油泄漏的潜在影响有关的光合生物的生物量、光合能力和种群组成。他们将使用APEX浮标探测地下石油羽流，并使用LADCP研究水柱中的垂直和水平速度。荧光分光光度计和挥发性有机化合物测量对于快速、现场确认和校准本次巡航中使用的其他设备的荧光测量值至关重要。这两种仪器的输出对于确定任何发现的水下碳氢化合物的来源特征也至关重要。APEX浮标将在巡航后在墨西哥湾提供持续存在。这次巡航获得的激发/发射光谱将提供给在墨西哥湾工作的所有调查人员，以帮助他们解释他们的结果。更广泛的影响所要求的仪器将有助于调查有关石油泄漏的一些最基本的问题？有这个数据的私家侦探吗科学家们将试图估计地下羽流的位置和大小，绘制近地表羽流的空间范围，并了解羽流对地下氧浓度的影响。此外，这项工作将补充和通知其他跨学科的调查，包括目前正在海湾地区进行的高分辨率建模工作。

The PI requests MRI RAPID funding to acquire a spectrofluorometer to measure the multi-spectral fluorescence properties of subsurface oil and a Volatile Organic Carbon Analyzer to measure VOCs in the subsurface plume during upcoming oceanographic cruises. Both instruments are essential for properly calibrating and ground truthing other fluorescence-based instruments used to research the oil spill. A key benefit of these instruments is the ability to provide rapid and detailed analyses of oil properties and composition on board ship in near real-time. In addition, the PI?s request a dedicated APEX profiler with UV fluorescence, particle backscattering, and oxygen sensors to monitor subsurface plumes autonomously during and after the cruises. The instruments in this request will be deployed in an upcoming RAPID funded research cruise to study the biomass, photosynthetic capacity and population composition of photosynthesizing organisms with regard to the potential effects of the oil spill using the Advanced Laser Fluorometer (ALF). They will detect subsurface plumes of oil using APEX floats and study vertical and horizontal velocities in the water column using LADCPs. The spectrofluorometric and VOC measurements will be essential for rapid, on-site confirmation and calibration of fluorescence-based measurements from the other equipment used on this cruise. The output from these two instruments will also be critical for identifying the source signature of any underwater hydrocarbons found. The APEX float will provide a continuous presence in the Gulf of Mexico following the cruise. The excitation/emission spectra obtained on this cruise will be made available to all the investigators working in the Gulf of Mexico to help them interpret their results.Broader ImpactsThe requested instruments will aid in investigating some of the most fundamental questions about the oil spill ? with this data the PI?s will try to estimate the location and magnitude of the subsurface plumes, to map the spatial extent of the near surface plume, and to understand the effect of the plume on subsurface oxygen concentrations. In addition, the work will complement and inform other interdisciplinary investigations including high-resolution modeling work currently being carried out in the Gulf.