Collaborative Research-BES: FerryMon, unattended water quality monitoring utilizing advanced environmental sensing

这个项目描述了一个试验台环境观测站计划，该计划利用北卡罗来纳州帕姆利科海湾的定期渡口收集连续的水质数据。FerryMon成立于2000年左右，是为了应对在北卡罗来纳州海岸造成大规模洪水和水质问题的主要热带风暴系统。自成立以来，基本数据收集计划一直得到州和地方机构的支持。该项目提供资金用于：(1)装备FerryMon，以便在发生重大水文和其他干扰后进行快速水质评估；(2)为通过持续监测获得的大型数据集制定和执行数据管理计划。鉴于预计热带风暴活动的增加会对沿海水质产生影响，FerryMon和LIKE计划对沿海环境观测站来说是潜在的宝贵资产。这个试验台项目建立在现有研究计划的基础上，该计划将有助于区分营养物质负荷和河口和海湾藻类水华的气候驱动因素的作用。将安装在渡轮和浮标上的仪器代表了测量浅水河口水动力条件和确定藻类色素成分的尖端技术。后者将有助于识别主要类别的藻类，包括那些被认为有害和有毒的藻类。PI一直是开发这种环境观测站的领导者，试验台将提供与IOOS等业务观测站工作的潜在联系。教育影响的目标是研究生、本科生和高中生，并提议让学生大量参与，包括来自传统上在科学领域代表性不足的群体的本科生。关于FerryMon计划的海报和小册子将准备好，在渡轮上展示，并分发给教师。

0606929PaerlThis project describes a test-bed environmental observatory program that involves collection of continuous water-quality data capitalizing on regular ferry crossings in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. FerryMon was instituted around 2000 in response to major tropical storm systems that had caused massive flood and water-quality problems on the NC coast. Since its inception, the basic data-gathering program has been supported by state and local agencies. This project provides funds to: (1) equip FerryMon for rapid water quality assessment following major hydrological and other disturbances and (2) develop and perform data management schemes for the large data sets obtained from continuous monitoring. In light of projected increases in tropical storm activity, with implications for coastal water quality, FerryMon and like programs are potentially valuable assets for coastal environmental observatories. This test-bed project builds upon an existing research program that will help distinguish the roles of nutrient loading and climatic drivers of algal blooms in the estuary and bay. Instrumentation to be installed on the ferries and a buoy represents cutting-edge technology to measure hydrodynamic conditions in the shallow estuary and determine algal pigment composition. The latter will help to identify major classes of algae, including those considered harmful and toxic. The PIs have been leaders in the development of this kind of environmental observatory, and the test bed will provide potential links to operational observatory efforts such as IOOS. Education impacts are targeted at graduate, undergraduate, and high school aged students, and substantial student involvement is proposed, including undergraduates from groups traditionally under-represented in science. Posters and pamphlets will be prepared about the FerryMon program, displayed on a ferry, and distributed to teachers.