Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/B505962/1
Particle export from the upper mixed layer of the ocean: Development and validation of a novel drifting sediment trap.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor RS Lampitt, NOC (Up to 31.10.2019), NERC Strategic Research Division
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor R Sanders, University of Southampton, Sch of Ocean and Earth Science
- Grant held at:
- NOC (Up to 31.10.2019), NERC Strategic Research Division
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Informatics
- Climate & Climate Change
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Abstract:
- An important part of the global carbon cycle is the way and rate at which particles sink from the upper ocean into the twilight zone and from there into the abyss. As these particles sink their organic components break down and the minerals dissolve. The further down in the water column they sink, the longer it is that these chemicals are isolated from the upper ocean and hence the atmosphere. The fastest rates of destruction occur in the top few hundred meters and this is the zone in which it is most important to obtain good data It is also the zone where the estimates of downward flux have the highest uncertainties. A variety of methods have been used in the past to estimate downward flux in this upper part of the water column but all have been subject to errors, biases and unconstrained assumptions. Furthermore, most do not provide samples of the sinking material for subsequent analysis. Moored or surface buoyed sediment traps in this upper zone have produced highly unreliable export estimates as a result of contamination by organisms that swim into the traps and also from hydrodynamic biases. Neutrally ballasted drifting traps appear to overcome these problems and deliver more reliable estimates of particle export as well as a representative sample of the sinking material. However no commercially available or user-friendly systems are currently available. During the past two years a highly reliable and user-friendly system (PELAGRA) has been developed at SOC that relies for its control and command on the commercially produced APEX float. During 2003, the system was proved during deep ocean trials and we now propose that it is developed further so that the buoyancy control systems are optimised and so that time series samples can be obtained during any one deployment. If funded in response to this call for novel capital equipment, the UK community will become equipped to address one of the most pressing issues in oceanic biogeochemistry.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/B505962/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Capital Equipment Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Capital Equipment
This grant award has a total value of £155,196
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £43,306 | £3,882 | £7,673 | £80,415 | £19,920 |
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