New capabilities for measuring organic matter degradation in the deepest oceans on Earth

测量地球最深海洋有机物降解的新功能

• 批准号: NE/V008870/1
• 负责人: Anna Lichtschlag
• 金额: $ 12.2万
• 依托单位: NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FV008870%2F1
• 关键词: New; capabilities; measuring; organic; matter

The hadal zone, with depths of 6000-11000 m, accounts for nearly half of the ocean's depth range, but has only recently been recognized as potential hotspot for organic carbon turnover and microbial activity. To understand the carbon mineralization and the related biogeochemical processes in hadal sediments is of global importance as carbon recycling in sediments can have critical implications for ocean chemistry, redox conditions, nutrient availability and hence for life in the oceans and on land. Due to inherent difficulties of retrieving samples for later analyses from hadal depths, a key element to make step changes in this field of research is the ability to use sensor technology to measure the important biogeochemical parameters directly in the hadal sediments and water column, i.e. without retrieving samples. The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are world-leaders in developing autonomous miniaturized chemical sensors for use in the open ocean. Their existing technology has been tested to 6000 m depth and can measure a wide range of chemicals in environments from the polar regions to the tropics. This project will bring together NOC experts with researchers from the newly created centre of excellence for ultra-deep sea research: the Danish Center for Hadal Research (HADAL) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) to jointly improve our knowledge about the processes governing organic carbon degradation in deep-sea trenches. In order to achieve this, we will share resources with the HADAL Center participants, to: i) conduct a knowledge exchange and a collaborative design workshop with both partners to decide on required sensor adaptations ii) test the sensors at the HADAL pressure testing facility to depths > 6000 m to study their limitations and required improvements, and iii) develop the first proof of concept data set of nutrients measured directly in hadal sediments during joint field work to a deep-sea trench off Japan. The outcomes of this project will answer exciting research questions about organic carbon degradation processes in deep-sea trenches and their impact on the surrounding ecosystem and will provide a proof-of-concept data set that will position us to strengthen the collaboration by writing joint proposals for future collaborations.

深渊带深度为6000-11000米，占海洋深度范围的近一半，但直到最近才被认为是有机碳周转和微生物活动的潜在热点。了解深渊沉积物中的碳矿化和相关的生物地球化学过程具有全球重要性，因为沉积物中的碳循环可能对海洋化学、氧化还原条件、养分可用性以及海洋和陆地上的生命产生关键影响。由于从深渊深度取回样本进行后续分析的固有困难，该研究领域取得重大进展的一个关键要素是能够使用传感器技术直接测量深渊沉积物和水柱中的重要生物地球化学参数，即无需检索样本。国家海洋学中心 (NOC) 在开发用于公海的自主微型化学传感器方面处于世界领先地位。他们现有的技术已在 6000 米深度进行了测试，可以测量从极地地区到热带地区的各种化学物质。该项目将汇集 NOC 专家与新成立的超深海研究卓越中心：南丹麦大学 (SDU) 的丹麦深渊研究中心 (HADAL) 的研究人员，共同提高我们对控制过程的了解。深海海沟中有机碳的降解。为了实现这一目标，我们将与 HADAL 中心参与者共享资源，以便：i) 与合作伙伴进行知识交流和协作设计研讨会，以决定所需的传感器适应性 ii) 在 HADAL 压力测试设施测试传感器，以深度 > 6000 米，以研究其局限性和需要的改进，以及 iii) 在对日本附近的深海海沟进行联合实地工作期间，开发第一个概念验证数据集，直接在深渊沉积物中测量营养物质。该项目的成果将回答有关深海海沟有机碳降解过程及其对周围生态系统影响的令人兴奋的研究问题，并将提供概念验证数据集，使我们能够通过编写联合提案来加强合作以便将来的合作。