Ship-based oceanographic surveys of nutrients and trace metals have greatly advanced our understanding of marine biogeochemical cycles. However, many important processes occur at spatial and temporal scales that are difficult to resolve using conventional discrete sampling. Capturing this variability requires analytical approaches capable of making frequent, automated chemical measurements both at sea and during long-term deployments.

A major focus of our laboratory is the development of programmable Flow Injection (pFI) methods and instrumentation for nutrient and trace metal analysis. pFI combines automated fluid handling with spectrophotometric or other detection methods in a compact, software-controlled analytical platform. The flexibility of the approach allows analytical procedures to be programmed and modified while minimizing reagent consumption, sample volume, and waste generation.

We use pFI to develop automated shipboard methods that increase the spatial resolution of chemical measurements during oceanographic surveys and autonomous analyzers capable of sustained high-frequency measurements in coastal environments. Current work includes autonomous measurements of phosphate and silicate and the development of methods for high-resolution trace metal measurements.

These efforts bridge analytical chemistry, instrument development, and ocean observing. Our goal is to develop robust chemical measurement systems that can transition from the laboratory to research vessels and sustained ocean observing platforms, providing observations at temporal and spatial scales that are difficult to achieve through traditional sampling alone.