An Autonomous Ocean Profiling and Water Sampling System for 0 to 11 km of Water Depth

该项目将建立一个自主系统，测量物理、化学和生物特性，并在整个全球海洋深度范围内(海平面以下0至11公里)对海水进行采样。由于该系统将在整个深度范围内部署，它将大大促进对所有水深处的深海化学、水团结构和浮游生态系统的了解。由于该系统将自动对深水进行剖面图和采样，它将取代人工引导的线缆操作，用于任何深度的海洋剖面图和水样采集。因此，通过允许船上科学人员在进行水柱采样和剖面分析的同时进行其他甲板作业，它将大大减少现场作业所需的时间和费用。最独特的是，拟议的系统将首次使对超深(6000-11000 Mbsl)海洋的普遍研究成为可能。在这个项目完成后，该系统将作为共享使用的仪器提供给科学界。这个自主系统将在从海面到海底再回来的过程中描绘整个水柱的物理和化学性质。在回程中，它将使用改装的尼斯金瓶和保压水样采样器采集多达24个水样。采样策略将是灵活的，很容易编程，以在特定深度层位(例如，100至10000米之间的10个深度)自动采集样本，或根据记录和自动识别的盐度、温度、密度或氧含量的转变而自适应地采集样本。该系统将在第二个项目年的两次试航中在实验室和海上进行测试。该系统的试探将为科学家和学生研究北大西洋西部和深海海沟(可能是波多黎各海沟)的深海生物、化学和物理过程提供实地机会、样本和数据。探险将集中为来自URI和少数族裔占主导地位的机构的学生创造机会，特别是在波多黎各，第二次探险可能在那里开始和结束。该项目将通过以下方式向本科生和研究生介绍海洋仪器的设计和出海研究：(1)以拟议的仪器开发为基础的海洋工程设计班，(2)将本科生和研究生纳入考察，(3)在港口地区进行船舶参观和介绍(S)，(4)其他研究生对考察样品和数据的研究。最后，该项目将为科学仪器设计和软件开发方面的研究生培训提供津贴和学费。这些努力将以多种方式解决国家科学基金会更广泛的影响标准，包括妇女、残疾人和代表性不足的少数群体参与科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)，以及发展一支多样化的、具有全球竞争力的STEM劳动力队伍。

This project will build an autonomous system that measures physical, chemical and biological properties and samples seawater throughout the full global range of ocean depths (0 to 11 km below sea level). Because this system will be deployable over this entire depth range, it will significantly advance understanding of deep-sea chemistry, watermass structure and planktonic ecosystems at all water depths. Because the system will profile and sample deep water autonomously, it will replace human-guided wire-based operations for oceanic profiling and water sampling at any depth. Consequently, it will significantly reduce the time and expense required for on-site operations by allowing shipboard science parties to undertake other deck operations simultaneously with water-column sampling and profiling. Most uniquely, the proposed system will make pervasive study of the very deep (6000-11000 mbsl) ocean feasible for the first time. At completion of this project, the system will be made available to the scientific community as a shared-use instrument.This autonomous system will profile the physical and chemical properties of the entire water column during the trip from sea surface to seafloor and back again. During the return trip, it will take up to 24 water samples with modified Niskin bottles and pressure-retaining water samplers. Sampling strategies will be flexible and easily programmed to autonomously take samples at specific depth horizons (e.g., 10 depths spaced between 100 and 10000 meters) or adaptively based on transitions recorded and automatically identified in salinity, temperature, density or oxygen content. The system will be tested in the laboratory and at sea on two trial expeditions in the second project year. The trial expeditions for this system will provide field opportunities, samples and data for scientists and students to study deep-sea biological, chemical and physical processes in the western North Atlantic and a deep-sea trench (probably the Puerto Rico Trench). The expeditions will focus on creating opportunities for students from URI and minority-dominated institutions, especially in Puerto Rico, where the second expedition may begin and end. The project will introduce undergraduate and graduate students to design of oceanographic instruments and sea-going research through: (i) an Ocean Engineering design class based on the proposed instrument development, (ii) inclusion of undergraduate and graduate students on the expeditions, (iii) ship tours and presentations in the port region(s), (iv) study by other graduate students of samples and data from the expeditions. Finally, the project will provide a stipend and tuition for graduate student training in scientific instrument design and software development. These efforts will address NSF Broader Impact criteria in several ways, including participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce.