Reef Metabolism Monitoring Methods and Potential Applications for Coral Restoration

Coral reef metabolism measurements have been used by scientists for decades to track reef responses to the globe's changing carbon budget and project shifts in reef function. Here, we propose that metabolism measurement tools and methods could also be used to monitor reef ecosystem change in response to coral restoration. This review paper provides a general introduction to net ecosystem metabolism and carbon chemistry for coral reef ecosystems, followed by a review of five metabolism monitoring methods with potential for application to coral reef restoration monitoring. Selected methodologies included those with measurement scales appropriate to assess outplant arrays and whole reef ecosystem outcomes associated with restoration interventions. Subsequently we discuss how water column and CO₂ chemistry could be used to address coral restoration monitoring research gaps and scale up from biological, colony-level metrics to ecosystem-scale function and performance assessments. Such function-based measurements could potentially be used to inform several goal-based monitoring objectives highlighted in the Coral Reef Restoration Monitoring Guide. Lastly, this review discusses important methodological factors, such as scale, reef type, and flow environment, that should be considered when determining which metabolism monitoring technique would be most appropriate for a reef restoration project.

Purification and Physical-Chemical Characterization of Bromocresol Purple for Carbon System Measurements in Freshwaters, Estuaries, and Oceans

This work provides an algorithm to describe the salinity (S _P) and temperature (T) dependence of the equilibrium and molar absorptivity characteristics of purified bromocresol purple (BCP, a pH indicator) over a river-to-sea range of salinity (0 ≤ S _P ≤ 40). Based on the data obtained in this study, the pH of water samples can be calculated on the seawater pH scale as follows: pH_SW = -log(K ₂ e ₂) + log((R - e ₁)/(1 - Re ₄)) where -log(K ₂ e ₂) = 4.981 - 0.1710S _P ^0.5 + 0.09428S _P + 0.3794S _P ^1.5 + 0.0009129S _P ² + 310.2/T - 17.33S ^1.5/T - 0.05895S _P ^1.5 ln T - 0.0005730S _P ^0.5 T, e ₁ = 0.00049 ± 0.00029, and e ₄ = -7.101 × 10^-3 + 7.674 × 10^-5 T + 1.361 × 10^-5 S _P. The term pH_SW is the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration determined on the seawater pH scale; R is the ratio of BCP absorbances (A) at 432 and 589 nm; K ₂ is the equilibrium constant for the second BCP dissociation step; and e ₁, e ₂, and e ₄ are BCP molar absorptivity ratios. A log(K ₂ e ₂) equation is also presented on the total pH scale. The e ₄ value determined for purified BCP in this study can be used with previously published procedures to correct BCP absorbance measurements obtained using off-the-shelf (unpurified) BCP. This work provides a method for purifying BCP, fills a critical gap in the suite of available purified sulfonephthalein indicators, enables high-quality spectrophotometric measurements of total alkalinity, and facilitates pH measurements in freshwater, estuarine, and ocean environments within the range 4.0 ≤ pH ≤ 7.5.

Spectrophotometric determination of pH and carbonate ion concentrations in seawater: Choices, constraints and consequences

Accurate and precise marine CO₂ system measurements are important for marine carbon cycle research and investigations of ocean acidification. Seawater pH is important because it can be used to characterize a wide range of chemical and biogeochemical processes. Saturation states of calcium carbonate minerals, which are directly proportional to carbonate ion concentration ([CO₃^2-]), influence biogenic calcification and rates of carbonate dissolution. Spectrophotometric pH and carbonate ion measurements can both benefit greatly from the high sensitivity, stability, consistency and processing speed made possible through automation. Spectrophotometric methods are well-suited for shipboard, underway and in situ deployments under harsh conditions. Spectrophotometric pH measurements typically have a reproducibility of 0.0004-0.001 for shipboard and laboratory measurements and 0.0014-0.004 for in situ measurements. Shipboard spectrophotometric measurements of [CO₃^2-] are becoming common on research expeditions. This review highlights the development of methods and instrumentation for spectrophotometric pH and [CO₃^2-] measurements, and discusses the pros and cons of current technology. A comprehensive summary of the analytical merits of different flow analysis instruments is given. Aspects of measurement protocols that bear on the quality of pH and [CO₃^2-] measurements, such as indicator purification, sample pretreatment, etc., are also described. Based on three decades of experience with seawater analysis, this review includes method recommendations and perspectives directly applicable or potentially applicable to pH and [CO₃^2-] analysis of seawater.

Spectrophotometric calibration procedures to enable calibration-free measurements of seawater calcium carbonate saturation states

A simple protocol was developed to measure seawater calcium carbonate saturation states (Ω_spec) spectrophotometrically. Saturation states are typically derived from the separate measurement of two other carbon system parameters, with each requiring unique instrumentation and often complex measurement protocols. Using the new protocol, the only required equipment is a thermostatted laboratory spectrophotometer. For each seawater sample, spectrophotometric measurements of pH (visible absorbance) are made in paired optical cells, one with and one without added nitric acid. Ultraviolet absorbance is measured to determine the amount of added acid based on the direct proportionality between nitrate concentration and UV absorbance. Coupled measurements of pH and the alkalinity change that accompanies the nitric acid addition allow calculation of a seawater sample's original carbonate ion concentration and saturation state. These paired absorbance measurements yield Ω_spec (and other carbonate system parameters), with each sample requiring about 12 min processing time. Initially, an instrument-specific nitrate molar absorptivity coefficient must be determined (due to small but significant discrepancies in instrumental wavelength calibrations), but thereafter no further calibration is needed. In this work, the 1σ precision of replicate measurements of aragonite saturation state was found to be 0.020, and the average difference between Ω_spec and Ω calculated conventionally from measured total alkalinity and pH (Ω_calc) was -0.11% ± 0.96% (a level of accuracy comparable to that obtained from spectrophotometric measurements of carbonate ion concentration). Over the entire range of experimental conditions, 0.97 < Ω < 3.17 (n = 125), all measurements attained the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network's "weather level" goal for accuracy and 90% attained the more stringent "climate level" goal. When Ω_spec was calculated from averages of duplicate samples (n = 56), the precision improved to 0.014 and the average difference between Ω_spec and Ω_calc improved to -0.11% ± 0.73%. Additionally, 97% of the duplicate-based Ω_spec measurements attained the "climate level" accuracy goal. These results indicate that the simple measurement protocol developed in this work should be widely applicable for monitoring fundamental seawater changes associated with ocean acidification.

Avoiding timescale bias in assessments of coastal wetland vertical change

There is concern that accelerating sea-level rise will exceed the vertical growth capacity of coastal-wetland substrates in many regions by the end of this century. Vertical vulnerability estimates rely on measurements of accretion and/or surface-elevation-change derived from soil cores and/or surface elevation tables (SETs). To date there has not been a broad examination of whether the multiple timescales represented by the processes of accretion and elevation change are equally well-suited for quantifying the trajectories of wetland vertical change in coming decades and centuries. To examine the potential for timescale bias in assessments of vertical change, we compared rates of accretion and surface elevation change using data derived from a review of the literature. In the first approach, average rates of elevation change were compared with timescale-averaged accretion rates from six regions around the world where sub-decadal, decadal, centennial, and millennial timescales were represented. Second, to isolate spatial variability, temporal comparisons were made for regionally unique environmental categories within each region. Last, comparisons were made of records from sites where SET-MH stations and radiometric measurements were co-located in close proximity. We find that rates vary significantly as a function of measurement timescale and that the pattern and magnitude of variation between timescales are location-specific. Failure to identify and account for temporal variability in rates will produce biased assessments of the vertical change capacity of coastal wetlands. Robust vulnerability assessments should combine accretion rates from multiple timescales with the longest available SET record to provide long-term context for ongoing monitoring observations and projections.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Carbonate Ion Concentrations: Elimination of Instrument-Dependent Offsets and Calculation of In Situ Saturation States

This work describes an improved algorithm for spectrophotometric determinations of seawater carbonate ion concentrations ([CO₃^2-]_spec) derived from observations of ultraviolet absorbance spectra in lead-enriched seawater. Quality-control assessments of [CO₃^2-]_spec data obtained on two NOAA research cruises (2012 and 2016) revealed a substantial intercruise difference in average Δ[CO₃^2-] (the difference between a sample's [CO₃^2-]_spec value and the corresponding [CO₃^2-] value calculated from paired measurements of pH and dissolved inorganic carbon). Follow-up investigation determined that this discordance was due to the use of two different spectrophotometers, even though both had been properly calibrated. Here we present an essential methodological refinement to correct [CO₃^2-]_spec absorbance data for small but significant instrumental differences. After applying the correction (which, notably, is not necessary for pH determinations from sulfonephthalein dye absorbances) to the shipboard absorbance data, we fit the combined-cruise data set to produce empirically updated parameters for use in processing future (and historical) [CO₃^2-]_spec absorbance measurements. With the new procedure, the average Δ[CO₃^2-] offset between the two aforementioned cruises was reduced from 3.7 μmol kg^-1 to 0.7 μmol kg^-1, which is well within the standard deviation of the measurements (1.9 μmol kg^-1). We also introduce an empirical model to calculate in situ carbonate ion concentrations from [CO₃^2-]_spec. We demonstrate that these in situ values can be used to determine calcium carbonate saturation states that are in good agreement with those determined by more laborious and expensive conventional methods.

Chemical Speciation of Environmentally Significant Metals: An IUPAC contribution to reliable and rigorous computer modelling

The mobility and bioavailability of metal ions in natural waters depend on their chemical speciation, which involves a distribution of the metal ions between different complex (metal-ligand) species, colloid-adsorbed species and insoluble phases, each of which may be kinetically labile or inert. For example, in fresh water the metal ions are distributed among organic complexes (e.g., humates), colloids (e.g., as surface-adsorbed species on colloidal phases such as FeOOH), solid phases (e.g., hydroxide, oxide, carbonate mineral phases), and labile complexes with the simple inorganic anionic ligands commonly present in natural waters (e.g., for Zn

Measuring ocean acidification: new technology for a new era of ocean chemistry

Human additions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere are creating a cascade of chemical consequences that will eventually extend to the bottom of all the world's oceans. Among the best-documented seawater effects are a worldwide increase in open-ocean acidity and large-scale declines in calcium carbonate saturation states. The susceptibility of some young, fast-growing calcareous organisms to adverse impacts highlights the potential for biological and economic consequences. Many important aspects of seawater CO2 chemistry can be only indirectly observed at present, and important but difficult-to-observe changes can include shifts in the speciation and possibly bioavailability of some life-essential elements. Innovation and invention are urgently needed to develop the in situ instrumentation required to document this era of rapid ocean evolution.

Flow injection analysis of trace chromium (VI) in drinking water with a liquid waveguide capillary cell and spectrophotometric detection

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is an acknowledged hazardous material in drinking waters. As such, effective monitoring and assessment of the risks posed by Cr(VI) are important analytical objectives for both human health and environmental science. However, because of the lack of highly sensitive, rapid, and simple procedures, a relatively limited number of studies have been carried out in this field. Here we report a simple and sensitive analytical procedure of flow injection analysis (FIA) for sub-nanomolar Cr(VI) in drinking water samples with a liquid core waveguide capillary cell (LWCC). The procedure is based on a highly selective reaction between 1, 5-diphenylcarbazide and Cr(VI) under acidic conditions. The optimized experimental parameters included reagent concentrations, injection volume, length of mixing coil, and flow rate. Measurements at 540 nm, and a 650-nm reference wavelength, produced a 0.12-nM detection limit. Relative standard deviations for 1, 2, and 10 nM samples were 5.6, 3.6, and 0.72 % (n = 9), and the analysis time was <2 min sample(-1). The effects of salinity and interfering ions, especially Fe(III), were evaluated. Using the FIA-LWCC method, different sources of bottled waters and tap waters were examined. The Cr(VI) concentrations of the bottled waters ranged from the detection limit to ∼20 nM, and tap waters collected from the same community supply had Cr(VI) concentration around 14 nM.

In situ spectrophotometric measurement of dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater

Autonomous in situ sensors are needed to document the effects of today's rapid ocean uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (e.g., ocean acidification). General environmental conditions (e.g., biofouling, turbidity) and carbon-specific conditions (e.g., wide diel variations) present significant challenges to acquiring long-term measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) with satisfactory accuracy and resolution. SEAS-DIC is a new in situ instrument designed to provide calibrated, high-frequency, long-term measurements of DIC in marine and fresh waters. Sample water is first acidified to convert all DIC to carbon dioxide (CO2). The sample and a known reagent solution are then equilibrated across a gas-permeable membrane. Spectrophotometric measurement of reagent pH can thereby determine the sample DIC over a wide dynamic range, with inherent calibration provided by the pH indicator's molecular characteristics. Field trials indicate that SEAS-DIC performs well in biofouling and turbid waters, with a DIC accuracy and precision of ∼2 μmol kg(-1) and a measurement rate of approximately once per minute. The acidic reagent protects the sensor cell from biofouling, and the gas-permeable membrane excludes particulates from the optical path. This instrument, the first spectrophotometric system capable of automated in situ DIC measurements, positions DIC to become a key parameter for in situ CO2-system characterizations.

Baseline monitoring of the western Arctic Ocean estimates 20% of Canadian basin surface waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite

Marine surface waters are being acidified due to uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide, resulting in surface ocean areas of undersaturation with respect to carbonate minerals, including aragonite. In the Arctic Ocean, acidification is expected to occur at an accelerated rate with respect to the global oceans, but a paucity of baseline data has limited our understanding of the extent of Arctic undersaturation and of regional variations in rates and causes. The lack of data has also hindered refinement of models aimed at projecting future trends of ocean acidification. Here, based on more than 34,000 data records collected in 2010 and 2011, we establish a baseline of inorganic carbon data (pH, total alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and aragonite saturation index) for the western Arctic Ocean. This data set documents aragonite undersaturation in ∼20% of the surface waters of the combined Canada and Makarov basins, an area characterized by recent acceleration of sea ice loss. Conservative tracer studies using stable oxygen isotopic data from 307 sites show that while the entire surface of this area receives abundant freshwater from meteoric sources, freshwater from sea ice melt is most closely linked to the areas of carbonate mineral undersaturation. These data link the Arctic Ocean’s largest area of aragonite undersaturation to sea ice melt and atmospheric CO₂ absorption in areas of low buffering capacity. Some relatively supersaturated areas can be linked to localized biological activity. Collectively, these observations can be used to project trends of ocean acidification in higher latitude marine surface waters where inorganic carbon chemistry is largely influenced by sea ice meltwater.

Evaluation of reagentless pH modification for in situ ocean analysis: determination of dissolved inorganic carbon using mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

In situ analytical techniques that require the storage and delivery of reagents (e.g., acidic or basic solutions) have inherent durability limitations. The reagentless electrolytic technique for pH modification presented here was developed primarily to ease and to extend the longevity of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) determinations in seawater, but can also be used for other analytical methods. DIC, a primary carbon dioxide (CO(2)) system variable along with alkalinity, controls seawater pH, carbonate saturation state, and CO(2) fugacity. Determinations of these parameters are central to an understanding of ocean acidification and global climate change.

METHODS

Electrodes fabricated with electroactive materials, including manganese(III) oxide (Mn(2)O(3)) and palladium (Pd), were examined for potential use in electrolytic acidification. In-line acidification techniques were evaluated using a bench-top membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) setup to determine the DIC content of artificial seawater. Linear least-squares (LLSQ) calibrations for DIC concentration determinations over a range between 1650 and 2400 µmol kg(-1) were obtained, using both the novel electrolytic and conventional acid addition techniques.

RESULTS

At sample rates of 4.5 mL min(-1), electrodes clad with Mn(2)O(3) and Pd were able to change seawater pH from 7.6 to 2.8 with a power consumption of less than 3 W. Although calibration curves were influenced by sampling rates at a flow of 4.5 mL min(-1), the 1σ measurement precision for DIC was of the order of ±20 µmol kg(-1).

CONCLUSIONS

Calibrations obtained with the novel reagentless technique and the in-line addition of strong acid showed similar capabilities for DIC quantification. However, calculations of power savings for the reagentless technique relative to the mechanical delivery of stored acid demonstrated substantial advantages of the electrolytic technique for long-term deployments (>1 year).

Determination of nanomolar chromate in drinking water with solid phase extraction and a portable spectrophotometer

Determination of chromate at low concentration levels in drinking water is an important analytical objective for both human health and environmental science. Here we report the use of solid phase extraction (SPE) in combination with a custom-made portable light-emitting diode (LED) spectrophotometer to achieve detection of chromate in the field at nanomolar levels. The measurement chemistry is based on a highly selective reaction between 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC) and chromate under acidic conditions. The Cr-DPC complex formed in the reaction can be extracted on a commercial C18 SPE cartridge. Concentrated Cr-DPC is subsequently eluted with methanol and detected by spectrophotometry. Optimization of analytical conditions involved investigation of reagent compositions and concentrations, eluent type, flow rate (sample loading), sample volume, and stability of the SPE cartridge. Under optimized conditions, detection limits are on the order of 3 nM. Only 50 mL of sample is required for an analysis, and total analysis time is around 10 min. The targeted analytical range of 0-500 nM can be easily extended by changing the sample volume. Compared to previous SPE-based spectrophotometric methods, this analytical procedure offers the benefits of improved sensitivity, reduced sample consumption, shorter analysis time, greater operational convenience, and lower cost.

Spectrophotometric calibration of pH electrodes in seawater using purified m-cresol purple

This work examines the use of purified meta-cresol purple (mCP) for direct spectrophotometric calibration of glass pH electrodes in seawater. The procedures used in this investigation allow for simple, inexpensive electrode calibrations over salinities of 20-40 and temperatures of 278.15-308.15 K without preparation of synthetic Tris seawater buffers. The optimal pH range is ∼7.0-8.1. Spectrophotometric calibrations enable straightforward, quantitative distinctions between Nernstian and non-Nernstian electrode behavior. For the electrodes examined in this study, both types of behavior were observed. Furthermore, calibrations performed in natural seawater allow direct determination of the influence of salinity on electrode performance. The procedures developed in this study account for salinity-induced variations in liquid junction potentials that, if not taken into account, would create pH inconsistencies of 0.028 over a 10-unit change in salinity. Spectrophotometric calibration can also be used to expeditiously determine the intercept potential (i.e., the potential corresponding to pH 0) of an electrode that has reliably demonstrated Nernstian behavior. Titrations to ascertain Nernstian behavior and salinity effects can be undertaken relatively infrequently (∼weekly to monthly). One-point determinations of intercept potential should be undertaken frequently (∼daily) to monitor for stable electrode behavior and ensure accurate potentiometric pH determinations.

Purification and characterization of meta-cresol purple for spectrophotometric seawater pH measurements

Spectrophotometric procedures allow rapid and precise measurements of the pH of natural waters. However, impurities in the acid-base indicators used in these analyses can significantly affect measurement accuracy. This work describes HPLC procedures for purifying one such indicator, meta-cresol purple (mCP), and reports mCP physical-chemical characteristics (thermodynamic equilibrium constants and visible-light absorbances) over a range of temperature (T) and salinity (S). Using pure mCP, seawater pH on the total hydrogen ion concentration scale (pHT) can be expressed in terms of measured mCP absorbance ratios (R = λ2A/(λ1)A) as follows: [formula in text] where -log(K(2)Te2) = a + (b/T) + c ln T – dT; a = -246.64209 + 0.315971S + 2.8855 × 10(-4)S2; b = 7229.23864 – 7.098137S – 0.057034S2; c = 44.493382 – 0.052711S; d = 0.0781344; and mCP molar absorbance ratios (ei) are expressed as e1 = -0.007762 + 4.5174 × 10(-5)T and e3/e2 = -0.020813 + 2.60262 × 10(-4)T + 1.0436 × 10(-4) (S – 35). The mCP absorbances, λ1A and λ2A, used to calculate R are measured at wavelengths (λ) of 434 and 578 nm. This characterization is appropriate for 278.15 ≤ T ≤ 308.15 and 20 ≤ S ≤ 40.

The oceanic carbonate system: a reassessment of biogenic controls

Fluxes of biogenic carbonates moving out of the euphotic zone and into deeper undersaturated waters of the North Pacific were estimated with free-drifting sediment traps. Short-duration (1 to 1.5 day) sampling between 100 and 2200 meters points to a major involvement in the oceanic carbonate system by a class of organisms which had been relegated to a secondary role-aragonitic pteropods. Pteropod fluxes through the base of the euphotic zone are almost large enough to balance the alkalinity budget for the Pacific Ocean. Dissolution experiments with freshly collected materials shed considerable light on a mystery surrounding these labile organisms: although plankton collections from net tows almost always contain large numbers of pteropods, these organisms are never a major component of biogenic materials in long-duration sediment trap collections. Their low abundance in long-duration collections results from dissolution subsequent to collection. Shortduration sampling showed significant increases in the ratio of calcitic foraminifera to aragonitic pteropods in undersaturated waters, indicating the more stable mineralogic form, calcite, was preserved relative to aragonite. Approximately 90 percent of the aragonite flux is remineralized in the upper 2.2 kilometers of the water column.

Radiuin-226 and radon-222 in the coastal waters of west Florida: high concentrations and atmospheric degassing

On the central portion of the west Florida continental shelf, radionuclide activities show unusually wide variations: radium-226 activities up to 350 disintegrations per minute per 100 liters, radon-222 activities up to 1300 disintegrations per minute per 100 liters, and deficiencies of radon-222 as low as -10 disintegrations per minute per 100 liters. Florida's phosphate-rich strata seerm to be the principal source of the radionuclides, with the transfer occurring directly from sediments or indirectly in streams, ground-water flow, and geothermal springs. Winter storm fronts may enhance radon degassing in the shelf waters.

Chemical speciation of environmentally significant metals with inorganic ligands. Part 3: The Pb2+ + OH–, Cl–, CO32–, SO42–, and PO43– systems (IUPAC Technical Report)

Complex formation between PbII and the common environmental inorganic ligands, Cl–, OH–, CO32–, SO42–, and PO43–, can be significant in natural waters with low concentrations of organic matter. Numerical modeling of the speciation of PbII amongst these inorganic ligands requires reliable values for the relevant stability (formation) constants. This paper provides a critical review of such constants and related thermodynamic data. It recommends values of log10 βp,q,r° valid at Im = 0 mol kg–1 and 25 °C (298.15 K), along with the equations and empirical coefficients required to calculate log10βp,q,r values at higher ionic strengths using the Brønsted–Guggenheim–Scatchard specific ion interaction theory (SIT). Some values for reaction enthalpies, ΔrH, are also reported. In weakly acidic fresh water systems (–log10 {[H+]/c°} &lt; 6), the speciation of PbII is similar to that of CuII. In the absence of organic ligands, PbII speciation is dominated by Pb2+(aq), with PbSO4(aq) as a minor species. In weakly alkaline solutions, 8.0 &lt; –log10 {[H+]/c°} &lt; 9.0, the speciation is dominated by the carbonato species PbCO3(aq) and Pb(CO3)22–. In weakly acidic saline systems (–log10 {[H+]/c°} &lt; 6), the speciation is dominated by PbCln(2–n)+ complexes, (n = 0–3), with Pb2+(aq) as a minor species. In this medium (and in seawater), the speciation contrasts with that of CuII because of the higher stability of the Pb2+-chlorido- complexes. In seawater at –log10 {[H+]/c°} = 8.2, the calculated speciation is less well defined, although it is clearly dominated by the uncharged species PbCO3(aq) (41 % of [Pb]T) with a significant contribution (16 %) from Pb(CO3)Cl– and minor contributions (5–10 %) from PbCln(2–n)+, (n = 0–3) and Pb(CO3)22–. The uncertainty in calculations of PbII speciation in seawater arises from (a) the large uncertainty in the stability constant for the apparently dominant species PbCO3(aq), (b) the reliance on statistical predictions for stability constants of the ternary species Pb(CO3)Cl– and Pb(CO3)OH–, and (c) the uncertainty in the stability constant for PbCl42–, the available value being considered "indicative" only. There is scope for additional detailed high-quality measurements in the Pb2+ + CO32– + Cl– system.

Calibration of an in situ membrane inlet mass spectrometer for measurements of dissolved gases and volatile organics in seawater

Use of membrane inlet mass spectrometers (MIMS) for quantitative measurements of dissolved gases and volatile organics over a wide range of ocean depths requires characterization of the influence of hydrostatic pressure on the permeability of MIMS inlet systems. To simulate measurement conditions in the field, a laboratory apparatus was constructed for control of sample flow rate, temperature, pressure, and the concentrations of a variety of dissolved gases and volatile organic compounds. MIMS data generated with this apparatus demonstrated thatthe permeability of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes is strongly dependent on hydrostatic pressure. For the range of pressures encountered between the surface and 2000 m ocean depths, the pressure dependent behavior of PDMS membranes could not be satisfactorily described using previously published theoretical models of membrane behavior. The observed influence of hydrostatic pressure on signal intensity could, nonetheless, be quantitatively modeled using a relatively simple semiempirical relationship between permeability and hydrostatic pressure. The semiempirical MIMS calibration developed in this study was applied to in situ underwater mass spectrometer (UMS) data to generate high-resolution, vertical profiles of dissolved gases in the Gulf of Mexico. These measurements constitute the first quantitative observations of dissolved gas profiles in the oceans obtained by in situ membrane inlet mass spectrometry. Alternative techniques used to produce dissolved gas profiles were in good accord with UMS measurements.

High-resolution in situ analysis of nitrate and phosphate in the oligotrophic ocean

Accurate, high-resolution profiles of nitrate and phosphate distributions in the open ocean are difficult to obtain using conventional techniques. Concentrations typically range from low nanomolar levels in the stratified euphotic zone to micromolar levels below the nutricline. With multiple pumps, a heating cartridge, a long-path-length cell, and a multiwavelength spectrometer, the reconfigured Spectrophotometric Elemental Analysis System (SEAS) provides the capability to fully ascertain the distributions of nitrate and phosphate in the upper 200 m of the oligotrophic ocean. By utilizing a 15 cm path length and multiple wavelength spectrophotometry, SEAS can detect nitrate concentrations from 2 nM to 20 microM and, with a 50 cm path length, can accurately measure phosphate concentrations from 1 nM to 1 microM. SEAS is capable of collecting auxiliary data from up to four separate instruments, including a CTD, a fluorometer, a PAR sensor, and a second SEAS instrument. Sampling frequency depends on peripheral instrument selection and ranges from 0.4 to 0.75 Hz.

Simultaneous spectrophotometric flow-through measurements of pH, carbon dioxide fugacity, and total inorganic carbon in seawater

An autonomous multi-parameter flow-through CO2 system has been developed to simultaneously measure surface seawater pH, carbon dioxide fugacity (fCO2), and total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). All three measurements are based on spectrophotometric determinations of solution pH at multiple wavelengths using sulfonephthalein indicators. The pH optical cell is machined from a PEEK polymer rod bearing a bore-hole with an optical pathlength of approximately 15 cm. The fCO2 optical cell consists of Teflon AF 2400 (DuPont) capillary tubing sealed within the bore-hole of a PEEK rod. This Teflon AF tubing is filled with a standard indicator solution with a fixed total alkalinity, and forms a liquid core waveguide (LCW). The LCW functions as both a long pathlength (approximately 15 cm) optical cell and a membrane that equilibrates the internal standard solution with external seawater. fCO2 is then determined by measuring the pH of the internal solution. DIC is measured by determining the pH of standard internal solutions in equilibrium with seawater that has been acidified to convert all forms of DIC to CO2. The system runs repetitive measurement cycles with a sampling frequency of approximately 7 samples (21 measurements) per hour. The system was used for underway measurements of sea surface pH, fCO2, and DIC during the CLIVAR/CO2 A16S cruise in the South Atlantic Ocean in 2005. The field precisions were evaluated to be 0.0008 units for pH, 0.9 microatm for fCO2, and 2.4 micromol kg(-1) for DIC. These field precisions are close to those obtained in the laboratory. Direct comparison of our measurements and measurements obtained using established standard methods revealed that the system achieved field agreements of 0.0012+/-0.0042 units for pH, 1.0+/-2.5 microatm for fCO2, and 2.2+/-6.0 micromol kg(-1) for DIC. This system integrates spectrophotometric measurements of multiple CO2 parameters into a single package suitable for observations of both seawater and freshwater.

Sorption of yttrium and rare earth elements by amorphous ferric hydroxide: influence of temperature

The sorption of yttrium and the rare earth elements (YREEs) by amorphous ferric hydroxide was investigated between 10 and 40 degrees C over a range of pH (4.7-7.1) in the absence of solution complexation. Distribution coefficients, defined as iKFe = [MSi]T/([M]T[Fe3+]s), where [MSi]T is the concentration of sorbed YREEs, [M]T is the total dissolved YREE concentration, and [Fe3+]s is the concentration of precipitated iron, increased with increasing temperature over the entire investigated pH range. The observed increase in iKFe was largest for the heavy REEs, indicating that relative log iKFe values (i.e., YREE patterns) vary somewhat with temperature. The pH dependence of YREE sorption was described by a surface complexation model of the form iKFe = (sbeta1[H+](-1) + sbeta2[H+](-2))/(sK1[H+] + 1), where sbetan are stability constants for sorption of free YREE ions (M3+) and sK1 is a surface protonation constant for amorphous ferric hydroxide. The influence of temperature on the YREE surface stability constants (sbeta1 and sbeta2) was characterized by calculating molar enthalpies for M3+ sorption (deltaH1(0) and deltaH2(0)) using the van 't Hoff equation. The deltaH1(0) values appropriate to sbeta1 range from 11.8 to 13.4 kcal/mol, whereas the deltaH2(0) values appropriate to sbeta2 range between 7.7 and 12.3 kcal/mol. These values are on the same order of magnitude as enthalpies of the first hydrolysis step for a variety of cations.

Spectrophotometric measurements of pH in-situ: laboratory and field evaluations of instrumental performance

Automated in-situ instrumentation has been developed for precise and accurate measurements of a variety of analytes in natural waters. In this work we describe the use of 'SEAS' (spectrophotometric elemental analysis system) instrumentation for measurements of solution pH. SEAS-pH incorporates a CCD-based spectrophotometer, an incandescent light source, and dual pumps for mixing natural water samples with a sulfonephthalein indicator. The SEAS-pH optical cell consists of either a liquid core waveguide (LCW, Teflon AF-2400) or a custom-made PEEK cell. Long optical path lengths allow use of indicators at low concentrations, thereby precluding large indicator-induced pH perturbations. Laboratory experiments show that pH measurements obtained using LCW and PEEK optical cells are indistinguishable from measurements obtained using conventional spectrophotometric cells and high-performance spectrophotometers. Deployments in the Equatorial Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico demonstrate that SEAS-pH instruments are capable of obtaining vertical pH profiles with high spatial resolution. SEAS-pH deployments at a fixed river-site (Hillsborough River, FL) demonstrate the capability of SEAS for observations of diel pH cycles with high temporal resolution. The in-situ precision of SEAS-pH is assessed as 0.0014 pH units, and the system's measurement frequency is approximately 0.5 Hz. This work indicates that in-situ instrumentation can be used to provide accurate, precise, and highly resolved observations of carbon-system transformations in the natural environment.

Chemical speciation of environmentally significant heavy metals with inorganic ligands. Part 1: The Hg2+– Cl–, OH–, CO32–, SO42–, and PO43– aqueous systems (IUPAC Technical Report)

This document presents a critical evaluation of the equilibrium constants and reaction enthalpies for the complex formation reactions between aqueous Hg(II) and the common environmental inorganic ligands Cl–, OH–, CO32–, SO42–, and PO43–. The analysis used data from the IUPAC Stability Constants database, SC-Database, focusing particularly on values for 25 °C and perchlorate media. Specific ion interaction theory (SIT) was applied to reliable data available for the ionic strength range Ic < 3.0 mol dm–3.

Recommended values of log10βp,q,r° and the associated reaction enthalpies, ∆rHm°, valid at Im = 0 mol kg–1 and 25 °C, were obtained by weighted linear regression using the SIT equations. Also reported are the equations and specific ion interaction coefficients required to calculate log10βp,q,r° values at higher ionic strengths and other temperatures. A similar analysis is reported for the reactions of H+ with CO32– and PO43–.

Diagrams are presented to show the calculated distribution of Hg(II) amongst these inorganic ligands in model natural waters. Under typical environmental conditions, Hg(II) speciation is dominated by the formation of HgCl2(aq), Hg(OH)Cl(aq), and Hg(OH)2(aq).

In-situ measurements of Cu in an estuarine environment using a portable spectrophotometric analysis system

Application of a portable in-situ spectrophotometric analysis system for the measurement of Cu in estuarine environments is described in this work. Our spectrophotometric elemental analysis system (SEAS) used for in-situ observations of Cu concentrations is capable of fully autonomous or user-controlled operations. The optical cells used in SEAS systems are flexible liquid core waveguides (LCWs) with optical path lengths as long as 5 m. The 1-m waveguide used in the present study provided a 3.0 nM detection limit and a 5.0% relative standard deviation for a 25 nM copper sample. Analysis times range between 1 and 5 min, allowing for acquisition of data on scales appropriate to the highly dynamic biogeochemical nature of copper in the coastal environment. Field deployments of SEAS-Cu in Tampa Bay, FL, showed low Cu concentrations near the mouth of the estuary (3-4 nM), with elevated concentrations (approximately 25 nM) in anthropogenically impacted regions of the bay (e.g., marinas and areas adjacent wastewater treatment plants). Transect data between Tampa Bay and a deep water harborage exhibited copper concentrations ranging between 5 and 50 nM.

Chemical Speciation of Hg(II) with Environmental Inorganic Ligands

Abstract Complex formation between Hg(ii) and the common environmental ligands Cl−, OH−, CO32−, SO42−, and PO43− can have profound effects on Hg(ii) speciation in natural waters with low concentrations of organic matter. Hg(ii) is labile, so its distribution among these inorganic ligands can be estimated by numerical modelling if reliable values for the relevant stability constants are available. A summary of critically reviewed constants and related thermodynamic data is presented. Recommended values of log10βp,q,r° and the associated reaction enthalpies, ΔrHm°, valid at Im = 0 mol kg−1 and 25°C, along with the equations and specific ion interaction coefficients required to calculate log10βp,q,r values at higher ionic strengths and other temperatures are also presented. Under typical environmental conditions Hg(ii) speciation is dominated by the reactions Hg2+ + 2Cl− ↔ HgCl2(aq) (log10β2° = 14.00 ± 0.07), Hg2+ + Cl− + H2O ↔ Hg(OH)Cl(aq) + H+ (log10β° = 4.27 ± 0.35), and Hg2+ + 2H2O ↔ Hg(OH)2(aq) + 2H+ (log10*β2° = −5.98 ± 0.06).

Fractionation of platinum group elements in aqueous systems: comparative kinetics of palladium and platinum removal from seawater by Ulva lactuca L

A marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca L., was used as a substrate to compare the kinetics of palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) removal from seawater. This work indicates that, while the equilibrium behaviors of Pd and Pt are in many respects similar, their kinetic behaviors are quite distinct. The removal of both Pt(II) and Pt(IV) from seawater by U. lactuca is slower than the removal of Pd(II) by approximately an order of magnitude. Relative Pd and Pt removal rates are strongly influenced by system hydrodynamics. Under quiescent conditions, lambda(Pd)/lambda(Pt), the ratio of Pd and Pt removal rates, is 7 +/- 2, whereas under turbulent conditions lambda(Pd)/lambda(Pt) can be as large as 27. These observations suggest that the disparate kinetic behaviors of Pd and Pt may produce considerable differences in the environmental dispersion of these elements.

Inorganic speciation of dissolved elements in seawater: the influence of pH on concentration ratios

Assessments of inorganic elemental speciation in seawater span the past four decades. Experimentation, compilation and critical review of equilibrium data over the past forty years have, in particular, considerably improved our understanding of cation hydrolysis and the complexation of cations by carbonate ions in solution. Through experimental investigations and critical evaluation it is now known that more than forty elements have seawater speciation schemes that are strongly influenced by pH. In the present work, the speciation of the elements in seawater is summarized in a manner that highlights the significance of pH variations. For elements that have pH-dependent species concentration ratios, this work summarizes equilibrium data (S = 35, t = 25°C) that can be used to assess regions of dominance and relative species concentrations. Concentration ratios of complex species are expressed in the form log[A]/[B] = pH - C where brackets denote species concentrations in solution, A and B are species important at higher (A) and lower (B) solution pH, and C is a constant dependent on salinity, temperature and pressure. In the case of equilibria involving complex oxy-anions (MO _x (OH) _y ) or hydroxy complexes (M(OH) _n ), C is written as pK _n = -log K _n or pK _n * = -log K _n * respectively, where K _n and K _n * are equilibrium constants. For equilibria involving carbonate complexation, the constant C is written as pQ = -log(K ₂ ^l K _n [HCO₃ ^-]) where K ₂ ^l is the HCO₃ ^- dissociation constant, K _n is a cation complexation constant and [HCO₃ ^-] is approximated as 1.9 × 10^-3 molar. Equilibrium data expressed in this manner clearly show dominant species transitions, ranges of dominance, and relative concentrations at any pH.

Underwater mass spectrometers for in situ chemical analysis of the hydrosphere

Underwater mass spectrometry systems can be used for direct in situ detection of volatile organic compounds and dissolved gases in oceans, lakes, rivers and waste-water streams. In this work we describe the design and operation of (1) a linear quadrupole mass filter and (2) a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer interfaced, in each case, with a membrane introduction/fluid control system and packaged for underwater operation. These mass spectrometry systems can operate autonomously, or under user control via a wireless rf link. Detection limits for each system were determined in the laboratory using pure solutions. The quadrupole mass filter system provides detection limits in the 1-5 ppb range with an upper mass limit of 100 amu. Its power requirement is approximately 95 Watts. The ion trap system has detection limits well below 1 ppb, an upper mass limit of 650 amu and MS/MS capability. Its power consumption is on the order of 150 Watts. The present membrane limits analysis to non-polar compounds (<300 amu) with analysis cycles of 5-15 minutes. Deployments of both types of instruments are described, along with a discussion of the challenges associated with in-water mass spectrometry and descriptions of alternative in-water mass spectrometer configurations.

Spectrophotometric determination of freshwater pH using bromocresol purple and phenol red

The dissociation constants (KI = [H+][I2-]/[HI-]) of two sulfonephthalein indicators (bromocresol purple and phenol red) were determined as function of temperature (10-30 degrees C) at zero ionic strength. Freshwater pH, on the free hydrogen ion concentration scale (molal units), can be precisely calculated from measurements of indicator absorbance ratios (lambda2A/lambda1A) using the following equations: pH = pKI + log((R - e1)/(e2 - Re3)) and pKI = pKI(degrees) - AdeltaZ2(mu1/2 /(1 + mu1/2) - 0.3 mu), where R = lambda2A/lambda1A, pKI = -log KI, mu is the ionic strength, deltaZ2 = 4, and values of A for 283 < or = T < or = 303 can be estimated from the equation: A = 0.5092 + (T-298.15) x 8.5 x 10(-4). For bromocresol purple (lambda1 = 432 nm, lambda2 = 589 nm), pKI(degrees) = 5.226 + 378.1/T, e1 = 0.00387, e2 = 2.858, and e3 = 0.0181. For phenol red (lambda1 = 433 nm, lambda2 = 558 nm), pKI(degrees) = 5.798 + 666.7/T, e1 = 0.00244, e2= 2.734, and e3 = 0.1075. These two indicators can be used to make accurate pH measurements of freshwaters (river water, lake water, groundwater, rainwater, etc) within the range 4.5 < or =pH < or =8.5. The precision of pH measurements using phenol red in well-buffered freshwaters is on the order of +/-0.001 or better.

Influence of Pressure on Chemical Equilibria in Aqueous Systems - with Particular Reference to Seawater

Synopsis: The influence of pressure on chemical equilibria in aqueous solutions and the parameters that influence such equilibria are reviewed in this work. Particular emphasis is given to equilibria in seawater, including mineral dissolution, weak acid dissociation and metal ion complexation. Intended perspectives include the capabilities of predictive models to describe chemical equilibria in low temperature geochemical systems and the extent to which predictive models are constrained by direct observations. In context of the importance of pressure as a key variable controlling the pathways and fate of environmental chemicals, a need for further direct observations of chemical equilibria at high pressure, under conditions which are often challenging to the experimentalist, is evident.