COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: RESISTIVITY MAPPING OF SUBSURFACE MICROBIAL HABITATS IN THE MCMURDO REGION

合作研究：麦克默多地区地下微生物栖息地的电阻率绘图

• 批准号: 1241503
• 负责人: Jill Mikucki
• 金额: $ 6.13万
• 依托单位: University of Tennessee Knoxville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-02-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1241503&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: COLLABORATIVE; RESEARCH; RESISTIVITY; MAPPING; SUBSURFACE

Intellectual Merit: The PIs propose to investigate the feasibility of using airborne Time Domain Electromagnetic (TEM) to map subsurface resistivity in the Antarctic environment. This method offers a non-invasive way to determine the distribution of salinity in subglacial and sub-permafrost environments by distinguishing between high resistivity (glacier ice and bedrock, permafrost) and low resistivity materials (geologic materials saturated by salty water) to a depth of 300 m or greater. The TEM system will be helicopter mounted to generate three-dimensional maps of internal resistivity structure over inaccessible terrain. Deployment the TEM system will be a proof-of-concept to determine whether it can be used to map conductivity and depth of waters in Antarctic subglacial and sub-permafrost environments. These data will help researchers better understand the global function of subglacial microbial ecosystems the nature and extent of subglacial habitats. Coupling geophysical surveying with biogeochemical measurements will provide a unique opportunity to link the role of hydrology and microbial processes in the subsurface environments. The scientific goals of this work are to: 1) Develop flow models of the spatial extent of the brine source and subglacial water movement 2) Measure carbon flux and biomass from the subglacial brine 3) Determine how and why subglacial brine is released exclusively at Blood Falls.Broader impacts: This project will include student training, Antarctic conservation (Blood Falls is being proposed as a new Antarctic Specially Protected Area), and formal outreach developed with an outreach coordinator. The formal outreach plan will be an illustrated book on Antarctic research. To ensure the success of their broader impact goals, all PIs will work closely with Dartmouth College and the WISSARD Project Education and Outreach Coordinator.

智力优势：PI建议调查在南极环境中使用机载时域电磁（TEM）绘制地下电阻率的可行性。这种方法提供了一种非侵入性的方法，通过区分300米或更深处的高电阻率材料（冰川冰和基岩、永久冻土）和低电阻率材料（被盐水饱和的地质材料），来确定冰下和永久冻土下环境中的盐度分布。TEM系统将安装在直升机上，以生成难以到达的地形上的内部电阻率结构的三维图。TEM系统的部署将是一个概念验证，以确定它是否可以用于绘制南极冰下和永冻土下环境中沃茨的电导率和深度。这些数据将帮助研究人员更好地了解全球冰下微生物生态系统的功能，冰下栖息地的性质和范围。将地球物理测量与地球化学测量相结合，将提供一个独特的机会，将水文作用与地下环境中的微生物过程联系起来。这项工作的科学目标是：1）开发盐水源空间范围和冰下水运动的流动模型2）测量冰下盐水的碳通量和生物量3）确定冰下盐水如何以及为何仅在血中释放福尔斯。更广泛的影响：该项目将包括学生培训、南极保护（正提议将血福尔斯作为新的南极特别保护区），并与一名外联协调员一起开展正式外联活动。正式的推广计划将是一本关于南极研究的插图书。为了确保其更广泛的影响目标的成功，所有PI将与达特茅斯学院和WISSARD项目教育和外联协调员密切合作。