| underwater robotics to observe the great blue |
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Developing a new generation of underwater robots, the profiling floats to explore key ocean areas to better understand the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and the nitrogen is the objective of the project remOcean team led by Herve Claustre, researcher to the Oceanographic Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer (CNRS / UPMC). The combination results with satellite observations of the color of the ocean will also help to better understand the role of phytoplankton in the regulation of the carbon cycle in global ocean. Launched five years (2010-2015), the project received a grant of 3.3 million euros from the European Council of ResearchThe project remOcean ("Remotely sensed-Biogeochemical Cycles in the Ocean") of observation "remote" biogeochemical cycles aims to explore five key ocean areas: first Atlantic North which, despite representing 1.4% of the area the ocean could contribute more than 20% to sequester carbon through the ocean of Moreover, the four central areas of the subtropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans that are real biological deserts still very poorly understood, although over 60% of the surface of the ocean. To study the characteristics of these different areas, Herve Claustre and his team develop and use modern technologies, profiling floats (see note below) for improved performance, that is operated remotely and multi-sensor. On the one hand, the use of a new means of communication by satellite (Iridium) will allow scientists to receive both data than sending new instructions to the robot submarines before they dive back for another round of observation (eg change in frequency of observation). On the other hand, clad in a variety of sensors miniaturized, such profiling floats will achieve not only physical measurements but also chemical (eg oxygen, nitrate) and biological (eg amount of chlorophyll and particulate). The multiple benefits of this technology are underwater robotics to allow remote observation, in " time real "and continuously, including in ocean areas inaccessible or where regular access by boat is still too expensive. In addition, once deployed, these are autonomous profiling floats and operational for 2 or 3 years. They are finally the only way to study changes in biological properties of the ocean on a continuum of time scales (scale seasonal and diurnal scales up even inter-annual). However, the information collected will have maximum dimensions as if they are combined with other observational techniques, such as the color of the ocean that some satellites scan. Indeed, the color of the light that "fate" of the ocean (and is remotely sensed by satellite) is indicative of the amount of phytoplankton (plant plankton): the ocean is greener that is rich in phytoplankton and bluer that is lacking. Scientists then transform that information "ocean color" in global maps of phytoplankton concentrations, the first marine organisms to transform CO2 into matter alive. The maps produced only concern, however, that the surface layer of the ocean (about 1/5th of the layer occupied only by phytoplankton). The profiling floats therefore complement these cards to the ocean depths, where the satellites are over. The ultimate goal of remOcean thus acquires for the first time a 3D vision of the oceanic biology. This three-dimensional view offers the unique perspectives for science Wed It will for example to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) captured by phytoplankton through the process of photosynthesis. In order to improve the knowledge on certain aspects of biogeochemical cycles, the project is an important step remOcean of current research on environmental change. The project is funded by remOcean Award "Advanced grant" of the European Research Council (ERC, European Research Council, ERC). Founded in 2007, the ERC supports projects to basic research the following two criteria: scientific excellence of the project leader and the force of its innovative idea. In 2009, 236 researchers have been selected in Europe Herve Claustre is the first French oceanographer to achieve this distinction. With a purse of 3.3 million € for remOcean, financial support approach the maximum allowed by the program, which allocates a budget total of € 515M, in all disciplines. |
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