Collaborative Research: Exploring the Kermadec Trench --- Residence time, spatial gradients, and insights into ventilation

该项目将对深海海沟进行首次物理海洋学调查，重点研究Kermadec海沟的空间梯度和潜在的hadal通风机制。观测将使用两个独特且免费的11公里深度自由落体系统- Hadal水柱剖面仪和深度自主剖面仪-来检查海沟通风的模式和潜在机制。观测将包括对hadal湍流微观结构的第一次直接测量，速度的第一次深度剖面，以及沿着沟槽长度对物理或生物水柱梯度的第一次检查。实地观测包括多个同时部署的两台独特和互补的11公里深度仪器。Hadal水柱剖面仪可测量温度、电导率、溶解氧、水平流速、湍流微观结构，以及横向观察200 kHz生物声学反向散射。它还有一个摄像机和一个小型的痕量金属清洁水采样器。深度自主分析器测量温度，电导率和溶解氧，并有一个向下看的摄像头和24个10升瓶装水采样器。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will conduct the first physical oceanography survey of a deep ocean trench, focusing on spatial gradients and potential mechanisms of hadal ventilation in the Kermadec Trench. The observations will be made using two unique and complimentary 11 km depth-rated free-falling systems – the Hadal Water Column Profiler and the Deep Autonomous Profiler – to examine patterns and potential mechanisms of trench ventilation. Observations will include the first direct measurements of hadal turbulent microstructure, the first depth profiles of velocity, and the first examination of physical or biological water column gradients along the length of a trench.The field observations consist of multiple collocated deployments of two unique and complimentary 11 km depth-rated instruments. The Hadal Water Column Profiler measures temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, horizontal current velocity, turbulent microstructure, and sideways looking 200 kHz bio-acoustic backscatter. It also has a video camera and a small trace metal-clean water sampler. The Deep Autonomous Profiler measures temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen, and has a downward looking camera and twenty-four 10-liter bottle water sampler.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.