Measurement of mass transfer in rivers and shallow waters

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Funds are requested for the purchase of research tools for the measurement of mass transfer in rivers and other shallow waters, which consists of a field deployable velocimeter and a satellite-interfaced riverbed elevation recorder. The measurements include velocity (2 Hz sampling) in three dimensions, at water depths as shallow as 2 cm, and at velocities as low as 1 mm/s along with riverbed elevation to 1 cm accuracy. Such measurements are required to estimate parameters key to estimating the rates (e.g., velocities) at which important chemicals and particles (i.e., dissolved and particulate matter; scalars) move through shallow waters, and the rates at which these move toward and away from riverbeds (e.g., parameters derived from velocity measurements). My lab is particularly interested in the interaction of mass transfer with important biogeochemical processes involving aquatic organisms including phytoplankton, aquatic plants and bivalves. These organisms respond to hydrodynamics because among other things mass transfer delivers their nutrients and food sources and affects their ability to utilize them. It is also important to note that these organisms form the base of aquatic food chains in terms of production and consumption within river ecosystems and may serve as indicators of anthropogenic impacts on rivers and lakes downstream.