Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/U504427/1
ASIMOV: Autonomous Sensors for fast In-situ Measurements of nutrient biogeochemical essential Ocean Variables
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr A Schaap, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M D Patey, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Grant held at:
- National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Science Area:
- None
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- None
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Measuring the concentrations and distribution of nutrients in seawater is critical for understanding life in the oceans. Phytoplankton form the foundation of the marine food web and play a fundamental role in regulating the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the production of oxygen in the ocean. In the open ocean, their growth is often limited by the availability of the nutrients nitrate and phosphate, although these nutrients can be a pollutant in the coastal regions where human activity can increase their concentrations quickly. Despite the importance of marine nutrients, our ability to easily and repeatedly measure them in the open seas is limited by a lack of reliable sensors that can be readily deployed on underwater autonomous vehicles (AUVs), and particularly in the surface regions of the open ocean where the nutrient concentrations are low. Project ASIMOV will tackle this challenge with a series of technical developments aimed at improving the lab-on-chip (LOC) sensors for nitrate and phosphate, originally developed at the National Oceanography Centre. These instruments can autonomously perform laboratory-style wet chemical analysis in the oceans, yielding high-quality data with long-term stability during extended operations. They have been used on AUVs before, and these experiences have highlighted key priorities where the performance, reliability, usability, and ease of integration need to be improved. Specifically, ASIMOV will improve the analytical performance of LOC nitrate and phosphate sensors to enable high priority scientific measurements in glider deployments, as gliders are an increasingly important component of the UK's fleet of AUVs. To enable this, we will redesign the sensors to deliver increased sampling frequency and improve their limits of detection, allowing them to analyse the full range of nutrient concentrations in the open ocean with high spatial resolution. Second, we will implement and demonstrate major improvements in their reliability and user-friendliness. This work will focus on targeting common failure points in the existing instruments for engineering development, decreasing their size, and implementing better automated data quality control and analytical features. Lastly, as part of the wider Future Marine Research Infrastructure (FMRI) programme, we will support the integration of these sensors into Slocum gliders and demonstrate them during the planned field trial. Comprehensive integration manuals and scientist-focused best practice documentation will support future uptake. Overall, the outcomes of this project will enable a step change in the ease of using sensor-glider pairs to regularly collect scientific-quality data with high spatial coverage from the open oceans, supporting the UK economy and improving our understanding of and ability to protect the marine environment.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/U504427/1
- Grant Stage:
- Awaiting Event/Action
- Scheme:
- Research Grants
- Grant Status:
- Active
- Programme:
- FMRI
This grant award has a total value of £776,562
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Exception - Equipment |
|---|
| £776,562 |
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