Collaborative Research ETBC: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Physical Mechanisms Underlying Deposition, Degradation and Preservation of Marine Organic Carbon

合作研究ETBC：海洋有机碳沉积、降解和保存物理机制的实验与理论相结合研究

• 批准号: 0930551
• 负责人: Daniel Repeta
• 金额: $ 41.35万
• 依托单位: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-15 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0930551&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; ETBC; Combined; Experimental

Clay-rich marine sediments form Earth's main sink for organic carbon. This determines atmospheric oxygen levels, as well as fluctuations of global climate. For example, an increase in carbon burial effectiveness lowers atmospheric CO2 and induces global cooling, with an increase creating the opposite effect. Understanding oceanic carbon burial therefore has a direct bearing on how we model past changes of the earth system and predict future developments, such as global warming due to fossil fuel consumption. This research carries out an ambitious and holistic controlled laboratory examination of the transport, deposition, and degradation of organic matter in clay-rich sediments. It involves construction of a novel, new flume that allows visualization of transported organo-clay flocs and bed forms and allows for the control of temperature and system redox conditions. The work also involves detailed transmission and electron microscopic studies of sediment and organic matter textural relations, a novel integrated organic matter degradation study, and development and parameterization of theoretical and mathematical models of carbon sequestration and degradation. Broader impacts of the work include support of two researchers in an EPSCoR state (Mississippi), student training, and public outreach through YouTube and the Internet. It is also applicable to increasing our understanding of the dispersal of pollutants by sedimentary processes and may also help the search for unconventional fossil fuel resources that can ease our transition to the next generation of fuels and power sources.

富含粘土的海洋沉积物形成了地球有机碳的主要汇。这决定了大气中的氧气含量以及全球气候的波动。例如，碳埋藏效率的提高会降低大气中的二氧化碳含量并导致全球变冷，而碳埋藏效率的提高则会产生相反的效果。因此，了解海洋碳埋藏对我们如何模拟地球系统过去的变化和预测未来的发展（例如由于化石燃料消耗而导致的全球变暖）有直接影响。这项研究对富含粘土的沉积物中有机物的迁移、沉积和降解进行了雄心勃勃的全面受控实验室检查。它涉及建造一种新颖的水槽，可以可视化输送的有机粘土絮凝物和床的形式，并可以控制温度和系统氧化还原条件。这项工作还涉及沉积物和有机物结构关系的详细透射和电子显微镜研究、新颖的综合有机物降解研究以及碳封存和降解的理论和数学模型的开发和参数化。这项工作的更广泛影响包括 EPSCoR 州（密西西比州）两名研究人员的支持、学生培训以及通过 YouTube 和互联网进行的公众宣传。它也适用于增加我们对沉积过程污染物扩散的了解，也可能有助于寻找非常规化石燃料资源，从而简化我们向下一代燃料和能源的过渡。