Project description
World’s first highly sensitive and near-real-time underwater NO sensor
Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important yet poorly understood role in ocean chemistry and the global nitrogen cycle. Measuring it accurately is extraordinarily difficult due to its high reactivity and fleeting lifespan and the limitations of current measurement methods. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DINOS project aims to develop the world’s first reliable underwater sensor for dissolved NO, capable of detecting it at picomolar concentrations with second-scale response times. Developed in collaboration with leading ocean sensor experts at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and validated in the Baltic Sea, this breakthrough technology could transform our understanding of NO’s role in marine biogeochemical processes.
Objective
Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical yet understudied component of the marine nitrogen cycle and atmospheric chemistry, with its concentration, dynamics, and sources in the ocean poorly constrained due to limitations in current measurement methods. Existing techniques often underestimate in situ NO concentrations and fail to capture short-lived events, diurnal cycles, and fine-scale spatial heterogeneity, as NO's high reactivity and short lifetime lead to rapid degradation/loss during sampling. The DINOS project addresses these challenges by developing the first reliable, user-friendly underwater sensor for dissolved NO, offering picomolar (pM) sensitivity and second-scale response. By advancing in situ sensor technology, DINOS minimizes sample loss and handling artifacts, building on the success of WHOI’s ROS instruments (DISCO and SOLARIS). This innovation enables the capture of transient biogeochemical processes, enhancing our understanding of NO’s complex dynamics in marine systems. During the 24-month outgoing phase at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the sensor will be developed in collaboration with Dr. Scott Wankel and Dr. Colleen Hansel, leveraging their expertise in ocean sensor design and engineering. The prototype will undergo laboratory testing and calibration at WHOI, followed by field validation. In the 12-month return phase, the sensor will be deployed at the Boknis Eck Time Series Station in Eckernförde Bay (southwestern Baltic Sea), coordinated by Prof. Dr. Hermann Bange at GEOMAR. These advancements will provide unprecedented insights into the role of NO in marine biogeochemical cycles.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geochemistry biogeochemistry
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences oceanography ocean chemistry
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
24148 Kiel
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.