At least two additional missions will be added shortly, along with two staff missions for training. Measuring water motion around corals and its relationship to nutrient transfer. This project represents a continuation of studies started by Dr. Wethey in 1999, and builds on results obtained last year during Aquarius Mission 9918.
Studies related to nutrient pollution on Florida's reefs are of paramount importance.
Special, high spatial resolution, velocity sensors will be deployed at various distances off the bottom to measure water motion and turbulence at scales measured in meters and centimeters. Measurements will also be made to estimate how fast materials are transferred to and from corals under different flow conditions. Finally, micro-oxygen electrodes will be used to measure changes in oxygen concentration quite close to living corals as a function of flow, colony morphology, and surface texture of the corals. Taken together, the suite of measurements made during this mission will help scientists understand how materials dissolved in the water are ultimately absorbed by corals on the reef. Input of nutrients to reefs in the Florida Keys by upwelling.