Marine Chemistry
Dissolved Gas Detection - Rivers
There is a growing body of Global research in understanding how marine chemistry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Quantifying carbon cycling of underwater decaying organics across multiple heterogeneous environments - from dissolved Methane and Carbon Dioxide as well as Oxygen and Nitrates in rivers - and ultimately the release of these gases in the atmosphere or into coastal estuaries is a complex process. It requires technologies beyond discrete sample collection & analysis in order to characterize spatial and temporal variability.
Jetyak acquired data has been successfully used to spatially characterize distributions of CH4, CO2, O2 and NO3- in a New England salt marsh estuary, and has been proven in achieving large spatial scale chemical mapping of these environments. Dissolved CH4 and CO2 are measured by a laser spectrometer coupled to a gas extraction unit for continuous quantification during operation which can last multiple hours in a single launch.
Methane Seeps
Additionally, the Jetyak has been instrumental in furthering the characterization of methane seeps. Typically found at continental margins, geologically active sites and in hydrate fields, researchers require an understanding of the depths that methane from these seeps can reach the sea surface, and how this impacts the global atmospheric carbon budget.
A Jetyak DGM [Dissolved Gas Monitor] equipped with an onboard Dissolved Gas Extraction Unit and Greenhouse Gas Analyzer was instrumental in further characterizing such methane transport mechanisms in the Cascadia Margin. A key operational mission benefit was the fine resolution of surface water observations with a combination of instrument sampling rate and vessel forward speed. This aided in revealing spatial features and resolving methane measurements in a target region of the water column difficult to capture through conventional means.
Dissolved Gas Detection - Arctic Estuary
The same Jetyak fitted with a winched CTD and similar GHG analyzers enabled researchers to collect co-located chemical and CTD samples in an Arctic estuary nearshore of Cambridge Bay, Canada. Taken during spring break-up, the data was instrumental in better understanding the quantity of methane and CO2 release from freshwater previously trapped beneath the ice. Jetyak proved to be the perfectly suited system - large scale long endurance surveying, the ability to safely access shallow ice-ridden areas and operational reliability under hostile and remote environments.
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