NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship: Coastal-carbon: low cost sensors and satellites for studying coastal atmosphere-ocean carbon fluxes

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The NERC GW4+ DTP involves the four research-intensive universities across the South West - Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter – and six Research Organisation partners. For further details about the programme please see www.bristol.ac.uk/gw4plusdtp.

Co-supervisors:

Dr Graham Quartly (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)

Prof Brendan Godley (University of Exeter)

Project description:

The oceans absorb over a third of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that we emit from burning fossil fuels, which reduces the CO2 in our atmosphere, but also increases the acidity of the oceans. Clearly, studying and monitoring the health of the oceans is key for predicting future climate and maintaining life on Earth. Coastal margins equate to about 7% of the world’s ocean surface, yet they are thought to contribute up to 25% of the global CO2 sink, and to date they have been relatively poorly examined in contrast to the open-ocean. This is due to the lack of affordable and easily deployable instrumentation and methods.

Arguably the only way to monitor the global oceans is through using satellite data, underpinned by in situ campaigns (e.g. Land et al., 2013). We are in an exciting period for satellite remote sensing; a fleet of European Sentinel satellites are being launched, the first of which (Sentinel-1A) is already in orbit. Sentinel-1A carries an advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of characterising surface turbulence in coastal regions, the key to studying atmosphere-ocean gas fluxes. The availability of easily deployed low-cost CO2 sensors provides the missing link to enable the monitoring of CO2 fluxes in coastal regions.

The successful PhD student will undertake a unique programme of research aimed at exploiting the low-cost CO2 sensors and synergistic Earth observation data (Sentinel-1A, Cryosat-2) to characterise coastal and estuarine atmosphere-ocean CO2 fluxes. The project will develop an easily deployable low-cost system for quantifying the CO2 sink capability of coastal zones (Coastal-carbon). This work will support international efforts (e.g. The International Carbon Observing System). The student will work with Drs Jamie Shutler (UoE), Graham Quartly and Prof. Brendan Godley who are experts in marine Earth observation, atmosphere-ocean gas exchange and climate change. The cross-disciplinary nature of this research means that the student will develop expertise in i) remote sensing, ii) climate change, iii) field work and iv) spatial/temporal data analyses. The data and approaches developed by the PhD student are likely to have a wide range of potential applications beyond those envisaged for the project including marine habitat assessment (e.g. ocean acidification) and the exploitation of alternative remote sensing technologies (e.g. low-cost UAVs). The successful candidate will: work in world-class research institutes, work with the European Space Agency (e.g. http://www.oceanflux-ghg.org), carry out fieldwork, present work at international conferences, and have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and computing facilities.

Training opportunities:

The supervisory team will provide the expertise necessary to deliver the project. Dr Shutler (UoE) will manage the project, supervise the use of the optical visible spectrum and active sensor data and provide supervision on gas exchange, carbon cycle and climate related issues. Dr Shutler is the principal investigator on the European Space Agency Projects ‘OceanFlux Greenhouse Gases Evolution’ and ‘Pathfinders Ocean Acidification’. Dr Quartly (PML) will supervise aspects of the active sensors and issues of climate and Professor Godley will supervise issues of climate change and marine ecology. The student will gain experience in a wide range of techniques and disciplines (satellite observed oceanography, physical and biological oceanography, biogeochemical cycles, climate change, spatial and temporal data analyses) and have access to state of the art facilities at both institutions. The student will have the opportunity to attend the European Space Agency Earth observation summer school and the International Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) summer schools. The student will receive training in transferable skills through the University of Exeter, through which students can take specialist courses in computing, library-based research and career management and a Graduate Academic Programme comprising an extensive range of courses that the student can attend. The student will also benefit from working in a multidisciplinary research environment with active seminar and outreach programs.

For further information and eligibility please visit http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=1581