Ocean eyes: Developing novel optical chemical measurements of trace elements

海水中的铁（Fe）具有高度的颗粒反应性，很容易通过沉降颗粒去除，但尽管海洋颗粒很重要，但对其元素组成知之甚少。UoP和UoL海洋实验室拥有世界上少数几个海洋省份的颗粒海洋和大气痕量金属数据[1-5]。然而，颗粒分析是费力和昂贵的，这意味着原位传感器分析是一个非常理想的前景。我们的数据从NERC陆架海洋生物地球化学计划导致在英国陆架沃茨铁动力学的理解增强[6-9]。最近，我们发现，铁显着相关的光学参数，如浊度，打开大门，激发和新的可能性，在原位光学和光谱（即紫外-可见光，红外和荧光）代理（未公布的数据）。此外，有可能通过卫星仪器自动（即海洋滑翔机和浮子）和远程获得颗粒元素分布。该学生奖学金的总体目标是研究海洋悬浮颗粒的光学和光谱特性，作为铁浓度的代理。该项目是及时的，因为最近可从GEOTRACES计划，生物地球化学-Argo浮标网络，远程通信和光学/光谱传感器集成到浮标和自动驾驶车辆的数据。目标：学生将专注于3个核心目标：目的1完成元素的综合实验室研究，合成矿物相的光学和光谱特性以及海水中海洋沉积物/SPM的特征（普利茅斯和利兹实验室）。目标3利用过去和目前的传感器数据和卫星观测、时间序列数据（即百慕大最佳观测系统），调查利用确定的代用指标在区域/流域尺度上绘制颗粒元素浓度图的可能性。

Iron (Fe) in seawater is highly particle reactive and easily removed via sinking particles but despite the importance of marine particles, relatively little is known of their elemental composition. UoP and UoL marine labs have some of the few particulate marine and atmospheric trace metal data for ocean provinces in the world [1-5]. However, particle analysis is laborious and costly, meaning in situ sensor analysis is a highly desirable prospect.Our data from the NERC Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry programme led to an enhanced understanding of Fe dynamics in UK shelf waters [6-9]. More recently, we found that Fe is significantly correlated with optical parameters such as turbidity, opening the door to exciting and novel possibilities of in situ optical and spectroscopic (i.e. UV-Vis, IR and fluorescence) proxies (unpublished data). Furthermore, there is potential for particulate element distributions to be obtained autonomously (i.e. ocean gliders and floats) and remotely via satellite instrumentation.The overall aim of this studentship is to investigate optical and spectroscopic properties of suspended marine particles as proxies for iron concentrations. The project is timely due to the recent availability of data from GEOTRACES programmes, Biogeochemical-Argo float network, tele-communications and integration of optical/spectroscopic sensors into buoys and autonomous vehicles.Objectives: The student will focus on 3 core objectives: Objective 1 complete a comprehensive laboratory study of the elemental, optical and spectroscopic properties of synthesised mineral phases and characterised marine sediments/SPM in seawater (Plymouth and Leeds labs). Objective 2 test hypotheses with monthly surveys of marine suspended particles, optical measurements and trace elements at the Western Channel Observatory (WCO) Objective 3 use past and current sensor data and satellite observations, time series data (i.e. Bermuda BATS) to investigate the potential for mapping particulate element concentrations at regional/basin scales using determined proxies.