The oceans are littered with sensors that measure temperature and pressure, but almost none that can directly measure the life and chemistry within the water column. This project aims to build a new generation of rugged micro-devices that can do exactly that, deployed en masse on autonomous submarines and gliders. Current methods rely on collecting samples and bringing them back to a lab, which cannot provide the spatial or temporal resolution needed to understand how the oceans absorb carbon, support fisheries, or respond to pollution. The researchers will develop two specific tools: a lab-on-a-chip chemical analyser to detect nutrients and pollutants at ultra-low concentrations, and a miniature cytometer to identify individual phytoplankton cells. If successful, these sensors would transform climate modelling by feeding real-time biological and chemical data into ocean simulations, and give industries such as offshore energy and aquaculture the ability to monitor environmental conditions continuously and cheaply. This is applied engineering, not fundamental science—the goal is to solve a specific instrumentation bottleneck that currently limits marine science.
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The oceans play a crucial role in the prosperity and future of our civilisation; as a source of natural resources, as host to industry (e.g. transport and offshore energy) and in controlling climate (global warming). Marine environmental science has reached a bottleneck where further advances in knowledge and understanding of the oceans can only be obtained if a new generation of integrated multi-parametric sensors is developed, capable of mass-deployment in the oceans. This cross research council grant application (NERC/EPSRC) is aimed at solving this technology gap. Sensors that measure ocean life and chemistry (not to be confused with physical parameters; temperature etc) are extremely limited. Such measurements underpin many scientific fields, not least the accurate modelling of the oceans' role in climate change. In addition, these sensors are also required by many industrial sectors for routine high resolution, temporal monitoring of environment parameters.Current measurement methods are based on traditional sampling and laboratory analysis, although some macro sensors and devices are being developed. Clearly this approach which will never be able to measure the oceans with sufficient resolution in space and time. New innovative sensor technologies are required - this is the theme of this project. It is proposed to develop a new ruggedised Micro System Technology (RMST) to fabricate a new generation of integrated micro-devices capable of operating in harsh environments, without bulky, expensive and power hungry support systems. The project will focus on two classes of sensing systems: Lab-on-a-chip chemical analysers to detect nutrients and pollutants at the ultra low concentrations found in the oceans; and miniature cytometers to sample and identify individual phytoplankton in the oceans. The systems will be benchmarked against traditional lab-based analytical methods and field tested in the oceans and in Scottish sea lochs aboard submersible gliders, autonomous submarines and profiling floats.
Charles William Keevil (Co-Investigator)Hywel Morgan (Principal Investigator)Martyn Hill (Co-Investigator)Matt Mowlem (Co-Investigator)Michael Kraft (Co-Investigator)Peter Burkill (Co-Investigator)Peter Statham (Co-Investigator)
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