Sub-Liquid and Atmospheric Measurement Instrument To Autonomously Monitor the Biochemistry of Natural Aquatic Ecosystems

Abstract

An autonomous instrument for real-timemonitoring of lifein water in extreme environments with potential planetary applications.

Monitoring the biochemistryof aquatic ecosystems is critical tounderstanding the biogeochemical cycling induced by microorganisms.They play a vital role in climate-gaseous drivers associated withnatural ecosystems, such as methane emission in wetlands and peatlands;gas cycling and fixation: methane, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen; waterquality assessment and remediation; monitoring oxygen saturation dueto contamination and algal proliferation; and many more. Microorganismsinteract with these environments inducing diurnal and seasonal changesthat have been, to date, poorly characterized. To aid with the long-termin-situ monitoring of natural aquatic ecosystems, we designed a Sub-liquidand Atmospheric Measurement (SAM) instrument. This floating platformcan autonomously measure various sub-liquid and atmospheric parametersover a long time. This paper describes the design of SAM and illustrateshow its long-term operation can produce critical information to complementother standard laboratory-based microbiological studies.