Collaborative Research: Development of a Sensor Array for In-situ Real-time Measurement of Deep Ocean and Hydrothermal Vent Chemistry

研究海洋，特别是深海或热液喷口附近的动态生物地球化学过程是一项艰巨的挑战，需要具备在极端条件下实时监测各种化学物种的能力。了解这些动态过程对于我们预测和/或减轻自然和人类对海洋的长期影响至关重要。建议开发和演示一种离子选择电极传感器阵列原型，该传感器阵列能够在极端深度和接近喷口温度的海洋中提供各种离子化学物种的同步实时测量。拟议中的传感器阵列将基于ISE传感器阵列，该传感器阵列是作为2007年凤凰火星任务的一部分在火星表面设计、建造、测试并成功使用的，用于分析含有土壤样本的水溶液中的离子物种。这一初步努力的长期目标是实现后续研究，提高检测极限和选择性，为海洋科学界提供一种新的工具，用于现场实时绘制海水中广泛的化学物种图。由此产生的传感器阵列装置还将用于各种相关学科的研究人员对其他水体的研究或监测，如湖泊、河口、地下水、饮用水和河流。广泛影响：开发一种创新的研究工具，能够对海洋水域的化学性质进行现场时空监测，这是对环境和分析化学领域的巨大贡献。显然，如果该项目成功，将能够绘制海洋循环的图表，测量海洋中的二氧化碳水平，并研究这些对气候变化研究的影响。该推广计划将邀请教师和学生进行夏季实地考察，以监测波士顿湾和/或特拉华州河口的查尔斯河口以及缺氧的特拉华州内陆湾的水域。这些将提供巨大的无形的、但可证明的研究结果和影响。三名研究生参与了这个项目。此外，该项目将为来自多个学科的本科生提供参与现场仪器设计和开发的机会。高中生也将参与，通过课堂参与实地测试和暑期实地考察，让项目支持的研究生参与。还提到了通过教室实现视频的公共宣传。

The study of dynamic biogeochemical processes in the ocean, especially in the deep ocean or near hydrothermal vents, is a daunting challenge and requires the ability to monitor a variety of chemical species in-situ in real time under extreme conditions. Understanding these dynamic processes is critical for our ability to predict and/or mitigate the long term effects of natural and human impacts on the oceans. The propose to develop and demonstrate a prototype ion selective electrode (ISE) sensor array capable of providing simultaneous in-situ real-time measurements of a variety of ionic chemical species at extreme depths and near vent temperatures in the ocean. The proposed sensor array will be based on the ISE sensor array that was designed, built, tested, and successfully used on the surface of Mars as part of the 2007 Phoenix Mars Mission, to analyze for ionic species in an aqueous solution containing a soil sampleThe longer term objective of this initial effort is to enable follow-on research that, with improved detection limits and selectivity, will provide the ocean sciences community with a new tool for in-situ real-time mapping of a broad range of chemical species in seawater. The resulting sensor array device will also be of use to researchers in a variety of related disciplines for studies or monitoring of other bodies of water such as lakes, estuaries, ground water, drinking water, and rivers.Broader Impacts: The development of an innovative research tool to enable in-situ temporal and spatial monitoring of the chemical properties of oceanic waters represents an enormous contribution to the fields of environmental and analytical chemistry. Clearly, this project if successful will enable a charting of ocean circulation, measurements of carbon dioxide levels in the ocean, and studies of the impacts of these on climate change research. The outreach program will engage teachers and students in summer field studies to monitor waters at the mouth of the Charles River in Boston Bay and/or the Delaware Estuary, and the anoxic Delaware Inland Bays. These will provide enormous intangible, yet demonstrable outcomes and impacts of the research. Three graduate students are involved in this project. In addition, the project will provide opportunities for undergraduate student from a broad range of disciplines to participate in the design and development of in situ instrumentation. High-school students will also be involved, through the participation of classrooms to field tests and to a summer field trip, involving the graduate students supported by the project. Public outreach is also mentioned, through the realization of videos by classrooms.