SENSORS: Sensor Networks for the Study of Heterogeneous Fluxes in Lakes

现代传感器技术在帮助促进对环境的理解和监测方面具有巨大的潜力。通过在智能网络中将传感器连接在一起，这些好处可以最大化。该项目将创建一个独特的固定和移动传感器网络，可以自适应控制，以最有效和高效地研究湖泊物理与甲烷（一种重要的全球温室气体）生物介导的循环之间的耦合。这种传感器网络将解决的一个主要挑战是自然水域通常在多个尺度上存在的高度物理驱动的化学和生物异质性。异质性带来了实践和哲学上的问题。首先，人们能否利用传统的（有限数量的）观测结果确定一个有意义的系统平均状态？其次，鉴于化学和生物过程是非线性的，仅凭平均值就能预测化学通量吗？还是需要有结构信息，并采用高阶统计？获得所需信息密度的唯一可行方法是通过传感器网络。所提议的网络的一个新颖而重要的特点将是利用固定化学传感器和小型化移动分析仪器的互补优势，通过电子和声学网络集成，并在智能控制算法下运行。该网络将在控制甲烷循环的耦合、非均质、时变和多尺度地球化学和物理过程的研究中进行测试。[第1段冗余]。智力目标包括传感器网络应用科学的进步，以及对水柱内非均匀混合过程如何控制甲烷消耗的基本理解的进步。该项目将由一个多学科研究小组进行，并在系统工程计划下进行协调。该项目还具有更广泛的社区意义，因为湖泊和相关的地表水提供重要的商品和服务，是生物圈的组成部分。由于人类越来越依赖这些系统获取食物、饮用水和维持生态系统的完整性，因此有必要更好地了解其生物地球化学循环，并提高监测其健康状况的能力。拟议的传感器网络及其产生的观测结果将促进对地表水的理解、监测和管理。传感器网络产生的数据将通过互联网连接提供给本科生和中小学教育、公众意识和当地水资源管理者使用。

Hemond0330272Modern sensor technology has a great potential to help advance both understanding and monitoring of the environment. These benefits can be maximized by linking sensors together in intelligent networks. This project will create a unique network of fixed and mobile sensors that can be adaptively controlled to most effectively and efficiently study the coupling between lake physics and the biologically-mediated cycling of methane, a globally important greenhouse gas. One major challenge that such a sensor network will address is the high degree of physically-driven chemical and biological heterogeneity, at multiple scales, that typically occurs in natural waters. Heterogeneity poses both practical and philosophical problems. Firstly, can one determine a meaningful average state of the system using traditional (a limited number of) observations? Secondly, given chemical and biological processes that are non-linear, can average values alone predict chemical fluxes, or is it necessary to have information on structure, and to employ higher order statistics? The only practical way to obtain the needed information density will be through sensor networks.A novel and significant feature of the proposed network will be utilization of the complementary strengths of fixed chemical sensors and miniaturized mobile analytical instrumentation, integrated via electronic and acoustic networking, and operating under intelligent control algorithms. The network will be tested in a study of the coupled, heterogeneous, time-varying, and multi-scale geochemical and physical processes that control the cycling of methane. [redundant with para 1]. Intellectual goals include advances in the applied science of sensor networks as well as advances in the fundamental understanding of how heterogeneous mixing processes govern methane consumption within the water column. This project will be carried out by a multidisciplinary team of investigators, and coordinated under a system engineering plan. The project also has broader community significance, as lakes and related surface waters provide important goods and services, and are integral components of the biosphere. As humans increasingly rely on these systems for food, potable water, and maintenance of ecosystem integrity, a better understanding of their biogeochemical cycles and increased ability to monitor their health is necessary. The proposed sensor network and the observations it generates will advance the understanding, monitoring, and management of surface waters. Data generated by the sensor network will be made available via internet connections for undergraduate and K- 12 education, public awareness, and use by local water resource managers.