Chemical Oceanography
At sea, our lab collects particles using large-volume, size-fractionated filtration (McLane pumps) and smaller-scale bottle filtrations. We also use optical instrumentation to observe particles in the ocean. Back in the lab, we measure the bulk composition of particles using multi-element mass spectrometry, often through digestion of filtered particles using chemical techniques. We also use synchrotron light (x-rays produced at National Laboratories) to examine the composition of individual marine particles as small as single organisms. These measurements are then incorporated into regional-scale and global-scale biogeochemical/ecosystem models, often through work with collaborators.
