DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF A MODULAR, AUTONOMOUS IN SITU UNDERWATER STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYZER

PI申请资金用于基于现有技术（离轴集成腔光学光谱，或ICOS）开发两种仪器：一种是原位自主甲烷浓度和同位素分析仪，另一种是原位二氧化碳浓度和同位素分析仪。ICOS技术在气体定量和同位素分析中已经变得非常流行，并正在取代传统的仪器，如同位素比质谱仪。基于icos的仪器尺寸适中，与质谱仪相比，需要的功率相对较小。因此，它们已被部署在各种具有挑战性的陆地和大气环境中，包括树冠、气象气球和NOAA飞机。它们对湿气、温度变化、冲击和振动都很有弹性。由于只有一个移动部件（隔膜泵），ICOS系统非常坚固，并且不会在样品采集或处理上花费巨大的能量。π吗?我们与Los Gatos研究公司（陆地ICOS仪器的发明者和制造商）合作，将现有的仪器改造成适合水下部署的形式，并开发在水下操作这些仪器所需的额外技术。S建议设计一个额定进气系统，设计和开发一个排气系统（允许长期部署），并将仪器连接到海底电缆天文台。他们计划将ICOS部署为三种配置：作为ROV或潜水式仪器，作为独立仪器使用电池组，以及作为有线天文台节点的组成部分。作为这项工作的一部分，他们将与洛斯加托斯研究公司密切合作，在该项目完成后的六个月内将该仪器商业化。更广泛的影响：如果成功，该项目有可能为海洋学界提供首个能够高分辨率测定浓度和同位素组成的原位甲烷和无机碳同位素分析仪。这将为利用ICOS技术的进一步发展铺平道路，包括用于许多其他气体分析物（例如，N2O， CO, NH3， H， NO， H2S等）的原位分析仪。该项目将涉及博士后、研究生和本科生的参与。

The PI's request funding to develop two instruments based upon an existing technology (off-axis integrated cavity optical spectroscopy, or ICOS): an in situ autonomous methane concentration and isotope analyzer and an in situ carbon dioxide concentration and isotope analyzer. ICOS technology has become extremely popular for gaseous quantification and isotopic analyses, and is supplanting traditional instruments such as isotope-ratio mass spectrometers. ICOS-based instruments are moderate in size and, when compared to mass spectrometers, require relatively little power. As such, they have been deployed in a wide range of challenging terrestrial and atmospheric environments, including tree canopies, weather balloons and NOAA aircraft. They are very resilient to moisture, changes in temperature and shock and vibration. With only one moving part (a diaphragm pump), the ICOS systems are very robust and do not expend tremendous energy on sample acquisition or processing. The PI?s have allied with Los Gatos Research Inc., the inventors and manufacturers of terrestrial ICOS instruments to adapt the existing instruments to an appropriate form for underwater deployment, and develop the additional technologies required to operate these instruments underwater In order to accomplish this, the PI?s are proposing to design a 6000 meter rated inlet system, design and develop a gas exhauster system (to allow for extremely long-term deployments), and interface the instrument to a seafloor cabled observatory. They plan to deploy the ICOS in three configurations: as an ROV or submersible-based instrument, a standalone instrument operating off battery packs, and as an integral component of a cabled observatory node. As part of this effort, they will work closely with Los Gatos Research Inc to commercialize this instrument within six months of completion of this project. Broader Impacts: If successful, this project has the potential to provide the oceanographic community with their first in situ methane and inorganic carbon isotope analyzers capable of high-resolution determinations of both concentration and isotopic composition. This will pave the way for further developments that leverage off ICOS technology, including in situ analyzers for many other gaseous analytes (e.g., N2O, CO, NH3, H, NO, H2S etc.). The project will involve participation of a postdoctoral fellow, graduate and undergraduate students.