Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
An Equilibrium Inlet-Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) play a key role in earth system processes but little is known about the amount of BVOCs emitted, and the mechanisms underlying their production in marine habitats, despite these being potential hotspots for BVOC emissions. The aim of this proposal is to custom build a portable equilibrator inlet proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer for measurements of BVOC’s in coastal waters. This w ....An Equilibrium Inlet-Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) play a key role in earth system processes but little is known about the amount of BVOCs emitted, and the mechanisms underlying their production in marine habitats, despite these being potential hotspots for BVOC emissions. The aim of this proposal is to custom build a portable equilibrator inlet proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer for measurements of BVOC’s in coastal waters. This will be the first such instrument in the southern hemisphere and it will enable us to make in situ, high-precision measurements which will lead to ground-breaking advances that will revolutionise our understanding of BVOC cycling in coastal environments and their influence on the global climate system.
Read moreRead less
Shallow water carbonate sediment dissolution in the global carbon cycle. Carbonate sediment dissolution is a globally significant process, but poorly understood in shallow marine waters. This project will determine whether the combined effect of organic matter, ocean acidification and pore water flow in shallow water carbonate sediments increases the release of calcium and alkalinity to the ocean. This project is significant because this release has not previously been accounted for and may lead ....Shallow water carbonate sediment dissolution in the global carbon cycle. Carbonate sediment dissolution is a globally significant process, but poorly understood in shallow marine waters. This project will determine whether the combined effect of organic matter, ocean acidification and pore water flow in shallow water carbonate sediments increases the release of calcium and alkalinity to the ocean. This project is significant because this release has not previously been accounted for and may lead to an additional uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the global ocean, maybe some additional buffering against ocean acidification, but unfortunately, maybe also a loss of carbonate ecosystems. The outcomes of this project will make a significant contribution to our understanding of the global carbon cycle.
Read moreRead less
A terrestrial hot spring setting for the origin of life. This project aims to test the proposal that a terrestrial hot spring field could have been the setting for the origin of life, in preference over the currently favoured site at deep sea vents. The project will involve an integrated, and multi-disciplinary study of the rocks, fluids, and molecules that together make up ancient to modern hot spring systems, and experiments on prebiotic organic chemistry using early Earth materials. Results w ....A terrestrial hot spring setting for the origin of life. This project aims to test the proposal that a terrestrial hot spring field could have been the setting for the origin of life, in preference over the currently favoured site at deep sea vents. The project will involve an integrated, and multi-disciplinary study of the rocks, fluids, and molecules that together make up ancient to modern hot spring systems, and experiments on prebiotic organic chemistry using early Earth materials. Results will be used to develop a terrestrial origin of life setting and assist in the search for life on Mars.Read moreRead less
Effect of elevated nutrients on carbon and nitrogen cycles in seagrass beds. Seagrass beds play a crucial role in global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. It is unknown how this role is affected by nutrient inputs caused by humans. This study aims to determine, onsite, how elevated nutrients affect seagrass bed C and N cycling. A novel suite of cutting-edge methods will be used, including whole-ecosystem stable isotope labelling. This project is significant because seagrass beds affect the qua ....Effect of elevated nutrients on carbon and nitrogen cycles in seagrass beds. Seagrass beds play a crucial role in global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. It is unknown how this role is affected by nutrient inputs caused by humans. This study aims to determine, onsite, how elevated nutrients affect seagrass bed C and N cycling. A novel suite of cutting-edge methods will be used, including whole-ecosystem stable isotope labelling. This project is significant because seagrass beds affect the quantity and form of C and N exported to the ocean or buried, thereby impacting global budgets. The outcome will be major advances in understanding global C and N cycles. The benefit is that this will facilitate effective coastal management by improving our ability to predict how nutrients affect seagrass ecosystem services.Read moreRead less
Untangling metabolism and greenhouse gas production in intermittent streams. Freshwater streams are disproportionately large producers of greenhouse gases. Identifying the factors controlling their greenhouse gas production is critical as stream function is increasingly altered by both changing rainfall patterns and human pollution. This project aims to resolve the factors controlling stream greenhouse gas production. It will apply an unprecedented combination of continuous stream function and i ....Untangling metabolism and greenhouse gas production in intermittent streams. Freshwater streams are disproportionately large producers of greenhouse gases. Identifying the factors controlling their greenhouse gas production is critical as stream function is increasingly altered by both changing rainfall patterns and human pollution. This project aims to resolve the factors controlling stream greenhouse gas production. It will apply an unprecedented combination of continuous stream function and intensive isotope measurements to perennially flowing and intermittent streams in disturbed and undisturbed landscapes. This project is significant because it will quantify the changing role of streams in greenhouse gas emissions. Outcomes will provide critical information for managing Australia’s freshwater resources. Read moreRead less