CICEET Progress Report for the period 9/15/05 Through 3/15/06

Project Title: Improved Performance Capabilities for the Acrobat Towed instrument Platform: Data Collection, Calibration and Interpolation/Graphic Visualization
Principal Investigator(s): Leonard W. Haas
Additional Investigator(s): Howard I. Kator, Iris Anderson, Mark J. Brush, Jian Shen
Project Start Date: September 15, 2005

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Tasks to meet objectives
Field test a mockup of the mini-rosette to test for flight stability of the Acrobat with mini-rosette attached. Continue operation and testing of AMT Dissolved Oxygen Sensor. Schedule 2006 field operations.

Progress on Tasks
Schematic drawings of the mini-rosette and the means by which it is attached to the Acrobat frame and protected by a bottom-covering frame were completed. A mockup of General Oceanic’s prototype mini-rosette (12 discrete water samples @ 60 ml) has been constructed, attached to the Acrobat and field tested successfully. Flight characteristics of the Acrobat were not adversely affected. A photograph of the Acrobat with the mockup mini-rosette is shown in Figure 1. Purchase of a prototype mini-rosette from General Oceanics has been initiated. We have purchased a digital micro-winkler titrator for use in calibrating the AMT oxygen sensor. This will be used to confirm oxygen concentrations at saturation (derived from predicted saturation values of distilled water at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure) during pre- and post-cruise calibrations. Continued testing of the AMT sensor revealed that during calibrations in the lab when the oxygen sensor is connected to the DC battery power supply used on shipboard, which in turn is plugged into 110 volt AC power in our building to (re-)charge the batteries, there is considerable noise in the readout from the oxygen sensor. This apparent electrical interference is eliminated when the AC power supply to the battery pack is disconnected resulting in a very stable reading from the sensor. Henceforth all laboratory calibrations of the oxygen sensor are conducted on the DC power supply in the same mode as it is powered in the field. Furthermore, continued interaction with AMT now confirms that the magnitude of the sensor readout at saturation in newly-purchased sensors may decay, sometimes for several weeks, before stabilizing at an equilibrium value. The stabilized value at times may be considerably below the saturation readout immediately upon receipt of the sensor. Henceforth, field DO readings are only conducted with sensors which have been “aged” in the lab to reach equilibrium. A schedule for planned field work in 2006 has been established.

Difficulties
It is apparent that the purchase, integration, field testing and operation of a mini-rosette cannot be accomplished in the planned 6 month interval proposed. Additional time will be required to integrate the mini-rosette tripping signal into the signal cable and the computer software, a task that will be accomplished by Falmouth Scientific Instruments Co. in Falmouth MA. This is the same company that integrated the instrument output for our present Acrobat instrument. Mr. Chris Casagrande will interact with General Oceanics to acquire their prototype mini-rosette and he will collaborate with VIMS personnel to have the rosette integrated into the Acrobat when we return our system to FSI for CTD calibration and upgrade.

Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period

Objectives
Field testing and use of the mini-rosette. Evaluate various cruise tracks, sampling frequencies and software programs to optimize three-dimensional depiction of dissolved oxygen.

Tasks to Meet Objectives
Perform the scheduled field work during the anticipated occurrence of hypoxia/anoxia in the York River estuary. Test and evaluate various software programs for utility in providing accurate 3-dimensional distributions of dissolved oxygen,

Work Plan for Next Reporting Period
This contract with CICEET was fully executed and delivered at VIMS on October 6, 2005. During the 2006 summer field season various cruise tracks in the lower York River will be conducted and compared to assess the optimal sampling protocol for depicting dissolved oxygen in 3-dimensional space. Various interpolation/kriging software programs will be tested and evaluated for their utility in developing 3 dimensional depictions of dissolved oxygen. The initial occurrence of hypoxic conditions in the York River is typically late may early June. Dr. Shen will provide a three-dimensional grid of typical summertime dissolved oxygen concentrations in the lower York River from the VIMS HEM-3D hydrodynamic-eutrophication model, which will be re-sampled under various cruise tracks and interpolated by Dr. Brush. This modeled DO grid will provide psuedo-data which can be used to validate interpolated DO and identify optimal interpolation methods and cruise tracks. Dr. Brush will be doing the interpolations/3D visualization on the cruise data throughout the summer as it is generated, and on the modeled dataset in the fall. It should be emphasized that a functioning mini-rosette is not a requirement for the analytical procedures described above.

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives
Very good. No problems foreseen.

Overall Project Timeline Update
An amendment to the proposed overall project timeline is extending the installation, testing and use of an operational mini-rosette to the second 6 month period of the project. There remain three of four planned installment payments (5K each) to Sea Sciences Inc. for delivery of an operational mini-rosette. The purchase order for the second installment is currently being processed. We anticipate that all payments and delivery of an operational mini-rosette will occur within the next six month period.

We are also presently planning to add a fluorescence-based colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) sensor (WET Labs CDOM Sensor) to the Acrobat platform and integrate its power requirements and data output into the existing Acrobat package. The inclusion of this instrument will occur when the acrobat is returned to FSI for integration of the mini-rosette triggering mechanisms into the existing Acrobat software package. There will be no cost to the CICEET contract for this upgrade and its inclusion will have no effect on the timeline. CDOM represents the colored, light-absorbing fraction of the dissolved organic carbon pool originating from allochthonous up-river sources, fringing marshes and wetlands, and autochthonous production. As a major component of light attenuation, CDOM is currently being incorporated along with chlorophyll and turbidity in optical models to predict estuarine primary production and potential habitat for submerged aquatic vegetation, and may also be critical in relating extracted chlorophyll to measured fluorescence. Incorporation of a CDOM sensor will produce among the first detailed spatial maps of this key parameter (if not the first), and of seagrass habitat due to all three light attenuating substances. Further, the sensor requires water samples for spectrophotometric calibration of its fluorometric measurements, which gives an added value to the mini-rosette sampler.

Preliminary Data
Two­dimensional distributions of both density and dissolved oxygen in the lower York River in August of 2005 were measured with the Acrobat along a 20 km cruise track following the mainstem of the river starting at the river mouth. The results depicted in Figure 2 and Figure 3, and illustrate the dramatic changes that can occur in the vertical and longitudinal distribution of dissolved oxygen over short temporal and spatial scales. These results illustrate the need for accurate, fine scale depictions of dissolved oxygen that can be cost-effectively repeated over short time intervals.

Dissemination
Publications: None to Date

Workshops: L. Haas and I. Anderson participated in a workshop on Multiparameter, High Speed Sampling: Synoptic, spatially intensive sampling of biological and water quality parameters in fresh, coastal and marine waters at the ERF 2005 Conference in Norfolk, VA, convened by Chris Madden, cmadden@sfwmd.gov. We participated in the discussion of high speed sampling and illustrated the value of the Acrobat in this regard, emphasizing the proposed enhancements funded by CICEET.

Conferences: Quantifying Hypoxic Volume in Small-Scale Anoxic/Hypoxic Environments. L. Haas, M. Brush, H. Kator, I. Anderson, J. Shen Chesapeake Bay Symposium, ERF 2006, October 16-20, 2006, Norfolk Virginia

Manuals, Protocols: None to date

Outreach Activities: None to date.

Contact with End Users: We are in constant contact with Mr. Chris Casagrande who is primarily responsible for the development and integration of the mini-rosette to the Acrobat package. During the past six months we have been in contact with both Rick Hoffman and Stephen Presson the possible use of the Acrobat and its capability to depict and quantify volume a potentially new water quality monitoring program at VIMS funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Patent, Copyright, Invention Disclosure Activity: None to date

Expenditures
Expenditures are in the range anticipated for the work accomplished to date.

End User Advisor Feedback
Name: Christian Casagrande
Organization: Sea Science Inc.
Location: 40 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02474
Phone Number: Cell (401) 529-2282
E-mail: sales@seasciences.com

1) At this stage, what are the potential applications for this research? Please discuss how you and others could potentially use the technology.
We expect to market this technology to our ocean and freshwater customers which already have Acrobats and to potential customers requiring representative, uncontaminated water samples from a tow vehicle.

2) What, if anything, has changed about the project’s potential applicability since the last reporting period (not applicable to the first progress report)
N/A

3) Do you see any key challenges that the researchers may want to address or keep in mind?
In order for this technology to gain as wide a market as possible it must be adaptive to other brands of instrumentation (not just the FSI CTD) that may be part and parcel of the Acrobat payload.

4) Does this report offer you enough information to adequately address the above questions?
Yes.

5) Other feedback?
Sea Sciences has evaluated other sampling methodology and has concluded that the “sampling bottle” with continuous flow though is the only method that can be used to avoid sample contamination due to being towed though the water. All other methods (pumping, sealed open/close samplers) would provide a mixed, smeared sample representing a large towing area.

Name: Stephen Preston PhD., Monitoring Coordinator
Organization: Chesapeake Bay Program
Location: 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD
Phone Number: 410-267-9875
E-mail: spreston@usgs.gov

1) At this stage, what are the potential applications for this research? Please discuss how you and others could potentially use the technology.
This technology has the potential to provide much more detailed information on the spatial distribution of dissolved oxygen concentrations. The new Chesapeake Bay standards for dissolved oxygen vary with depth and new data are needed to fully assess them. This technology has the potential to provide that data.

2) What, if anything, has changed about the project’s potential applicability since the last reporting period (not applicable to the first progress report)
N/A

3) Do you see any key challenges that the researchers may want to address or keep in mind?
The acrobat is relatively new technology and there is need for research to fully develop its potential. In my opinion, the investigators are providing that research.

4) Does this report offer you enough information to adequately address the above questions?
Yes and I (and others in the Chesapeake Bay Program) are in regular contact with the investigators and get regular feedback on progress.

5) Other feedback?
None.

Name: Mr. Rick Hoffman, Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Coordinator
Organization: VA Department of Environmental Quality
Location: P.O.B. 10009, Richmond VA 23240-0009
Phone Number: 804-698-4334
E-mail: fahoffman@deq.virginia.gov

1) At this stage, what are the potential applications for this research? Please discuss how you and others could potentially use the technology.
Management applications of the research at this time are limited because it is still in the development phase. Potential applications remain unchanged. Once successfully developed, the technology will be very useful in determining attainment of VA State water quality standards.

2) What, if anything, has changed about the project’s potential applicability since the last reporting period (not applicable to the first progress report)
N/A

3) Do you see any key challenges that the researchers may want to address or keep in mind?
Instrument output formats for electronic probe data should be compatible with usage in 3-D interpolator modeling tools currently undergoing refinement by the Chesapeake Bay Program. Rosette sampler should collect sufficient analyte sample volume for typical minimum QA/QC requirements (e.g. # of duplicates/spikes/blanks).

4) Does this report offer you enough information to adequately address the above questions?
Yes

5) Other feedback?
None