Engineering Team Members
- Lead Engineer:
- William J. Kirkwood, Associate Director of Engineering.
- FOCE Prototype:
- Dale Graves, Technical Support Manager.
- Mike Conway, Marine Support Technician.
- Rachel Dunk, Post-doctoral Fellow.
- Cheri Everlove, Mechatronic Engineer.
- Megan Fuchs, MBARI Summer Intern.
- Jim Scholfield, Senior Mechanical Technician.
- Peter Walz, Research Technician.
- FOCE Flume:
- Bob Herlien, Software Engineer.
- Chad Kecy, Instrumentation Development Engineer.
- Jim Scholfield, Senior Mechanical Technician.
- Farley Shane, Mechanical Engineer.
- Xin Zhang, Graduate Student.
- Science Advisors:
- Jim Barry, Scientist: Benthic Ecology.
- Peter G. Brewer, Senior Scientist: Ocean Chemistry.
- Keith C. Hester, Science Postdoctoral Fellow.
- Edward T. Peltzer, Senior Research Specialist.
- Peter Walz, Research Technician.
The gold standard for examining the impacts of elevated CO2 levels on land plants was set in place some 20 years ago by the development of FACE (Free Air CO2 Enrichment) techniques. Over the last 3 years we have argued the case that similar experiments should be carried out in the ocean, and have found a good reception for this message. But the challenge is considerable both for dealing with the cabling, sensor, and permit issues, and for coping with complex and slow hydration rates of CO2 in sea water.
In the figures below, we show the original test frame in the MBARI tank, as used for the first field test and the pH convergence already achieved by the controller system under real-flow conditions on the sea floor.
Figure Caption
These results show that while a certain level of pH control could be achieved, the delay time imposed by the slow hydration rates of CO2 in seawater at ambient temperatures would have to be accounted for. We have modeled and tested those rates, and a highly modified system has now been drawn up for field testing through connection to the MARS cable. A preliminary version of this system is now being built for concept and engineering testing while coupled to ROV Ventana
Figure Caption
Questions? Comments? Please contact Edward Peltzer.