New Biogeochemical Lab at Wallops Opens

The Observational Science Branch, led by Dr. John Gerlach, has recently celebrated the opening of a new Biogeochemical laboratory that will address phytoplankton, which are microscopic organism in the marine environment. They serve as the base of the food chain and are responsible for the carbon flow to upper trophic levels, similar to grass in terrestrial environments. The open house and tour of the new facility was held on July 23, 2003.

Inside photo of new Biogeochimical Laboratory located at Wallops.

The purpose of the laboratory is to help researchers to further understand the optical ecology of phytoplankton, which has implications for mission concepts such as the latest MODIS Ocean Color Mission. One of the goals of the laboratory is to understand how phytoplankton acclimates to different environmental conditions, such as light and temperature. Understanding the basic ecology of phytoplankton through detailed optical laboratory studies will allow researchers to understand how phytoplankton absorb light for photosynthesis. Laboratory studies are being conducted to extrapolate to larger scales utilizing ocean color satellite imagery by developing computer programs for predicting phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity. The laboratory is equipped with a culturing facility to grow these organisms under controlled environmental conditions such as temperature, light and nutrients, which are responsible for controlling how fast the phytoplankton, photosynthesize. In addition, the laboratory has a biogeochemical component that includes a laboratory chemical fume hood and cabinetry to perform biochemical techniques for assessing phytoplankton concentrations, pigments and microscopy.

	The new laboratory is equipped with chemical fume hood and cabinetry to perform biochemical techniques

The Facilities Management Division/Code 220 and the Cube Corporation were responsible for the design of the laboratory. The laboratory is housed in Building N159 at Wallops Flight Facility and is led by Dr. Tiffany A. Moisan, NASA/WFF, and Matt Linkswiller, of EG&G. Several other researchers support the laboratory including Rachel Sipler of Salisbury University and Dr. Madhumi Mitra of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The Earth Sciences Directorate, Laboratory provided the laboratory equipment for Hydrospheric Processes, Code 972 and NASA Headquarters.