Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/D006511/1
Investigation of Near-Surface Production of Iodocarbons - Rates and Exchange (INSPIRE)
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr G Malin, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Martino, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor P Liss, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Prof. I Allen, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor PD Nightingale, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor TJ Smyth, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C Hughes, University of York, Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr S Archer, Bigelow Lab for Ocean Sciences, UNLISTED
- Grant held at:
- University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Tropospheric Processes
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Ocean - Atmosphere Interact.
- Abstract:
- Iodine is a vital element. For example, human growth hormones contain iodine so it is an essential part of our diet and a deficiency in this will severely affect how we grow and our brains develop. Also, in the atmosphere iodine is involved in chemical processes that contribute to climate change such as ozone depletion and cloud formation. The persistence of life on earth depends upon the constant recycling of essential elements that occurs via the major biogeochemical cycles that are maintained by the activities of microorganisms. It is crucial that we know how iodine is cycled between the oceans, air and land. The oceans contain a large proportion of the total iodine on the planet and the transfer of this element from seawater to the atmosphere is known to be an important part of its global cycle. One group of compounds that play a major role in transferring iodine across the sea surface are the volatile iodocarbons, this includes CH3I, CH2I2 and CH2ClI. Although we can measure the iodocarbons in seawater we do not fully understand what controls their concentrations in seawater and crucial parts of the jigsaw are still to be discovered. INSPIRE will compare iodocarbon concentration distributions with measurements that indicate biological, chemical and photochemical processes, and carry out experiments in the laboratory and during two research cruises to work out what the main controls on the concentrations of these compounds are. For example, the project will examine how the exposure of water samples to sunlight, zooplankton grazing of phytoplankton, plankton death and decay and bacterial growth influences the concentrations of the iodocarbons we measure in seawater. Once we have identified this we will then produce a mathematical model to simulate iodocarbon production to allow us to predict how much iodine is transferred from the oceans to the atmosphere. This will help us to understand how the iodine biogeochemical cycle operates much better and how it might alter with future climatic change.
- Period of Award:
- 16 Dec 2006 - 15 Jan 2011
- Value:
- £132,419 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/D006511/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- SOLAS
This grant award has a total value of £132,419
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £10,972 | £67,102 | £23,479 | £30,866 |
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