Descrizione del progetto
Campionatore innovativo per il monitoraggio idrico
I cambiamenti climatici e la scarsità d’acqua richiedono un monitoraggio ambientale standardizzato in modo affidabile e altamente automatizzato. Oggi il monitoraggio delle acque piovane, della portata dei fiumi e del clima si basa su un’elevata risoluzione temporale grazie a sensori di qualità. I servizi meteorologici, le stazioni di misurazione idrometrica, l’industria chimica e gli istituti di ricerca non dispongono tuttavia di una tecnologia automatizzata adeguata per la raccolta di campioni rappresentativi da analizzare nei laboratori. Poiché le firme isotopiche sono traccianti ideali dei processi nel ciclo dell’acqua, l’analisi isotopica permanente delle precipitazioni può identificare variazioni degli standard di circolazione atmosferica e l’origine delle acque freatiche. Il progetto AIRWAVES, finanziato dall’UE, introduce un campionatore autonomo, robusto e portatile progettato per soddisfare le elevate richieste di campionamento e conservazione per l’analisi isotopica. Il dispositivo ha un basso consumo energetico ed è accessibile anche da remoto.
Obiettivo
A new automated water sampling technology was developed under the ERC Consolidator Grant STEEPclim with the potential to revolutionize environmental monitoring worldwide. A changing climate and growing scarcity of water strongly increase the need of reliable standardized and highly automated environmental monitoring, thus creating a growing market for our innovative solution. Our first prototype successfully operated under field conditions. Now we seek funding to further develop this device and explore commercialization pathways. Today, rain water, river discharge and climate are monitored routinely with high temporal resolution using quality sensors, but no adequate automated technology for obtaining representative samples for laboratory grade analysis is available for weather services, hydromet offices, chemical industry or research institutions. So far taking, preserving and analyzing samples from natural waters is meticulous, labor intensive and expensive. Isotope signatures in water are ideal tracers of processes in the water cycle. Stable isotope analysis of precipitation can identify changing atmospheric circulation patterns and the origin of groundwater. They can also be used for the reconstruction of paleoclimate from ancient waters locked in geological archives. The analysis of fruits, food and drink products, of drugs, explosives and human remains is used to identify their regional provenance. For this purpose a robust understanding of the modern distribution of isotopes in space and time is indispensable. The autonomous and robust sampler introduced here is designed to fulfill the high demands on sampling and storage for isotope analysis. It is portable, has low power consumption and can be accessed remotely for maintenance and to adapt the sampling protocol strategy. The obtained water samples are not restricted to isotope analysis but can be used for any type of environmental water analysis.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencespalaeontologypaleoclimatology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorologyatmospheric circulation
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantIstituzione ospitante
14473 POTSDAM
Germania