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doi:10.2204/iodp.proc.336.110.2012

Objectives

The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the biological and chemical constituents of African desert dust impacting IODP Expedition 336 prospectus Sites NP-1 through NP-4, located in the mid-Atlantic, as follows:

• Use a laser particle counter, the Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS) (Douglas Westphal, Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey CA), and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery to monitor dust movement to and across Expedition 336 research sites.
• Use low-volume membrane filtration, high-volume membrane filtration, and a high-volume liquid impinger to collect samples daily for microbiology and chemical analyses.
• Use established culture and molecular assays to identify microorganisms (colony counts and DNA sequence data) in atmospheric samples. These assays will include standard culture-based assays, as published (Griffin et al., 2001), in addition to standard and qPCR sequencing assays, to identify organisms that are present in both atmospheric and surface water samples.
• Use epifluorescence microscopy to obtain the total number of bacteria and viruses present (direct count assay) in surface water samples.
• Use direct count assay data, Vibrio spp.–specific qPCR, and Vibrio spp. cultures to determine the influence of aerosol deposition in surface waters.
• Identify inorganic desert dust constituents from particulates collected with the high-volume membrane filtration unit using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence.
• Screen all liquid impinger samples for the presence or absence of bird and human influenza and foot and mouth disease viruses (a Taiwanese scientist just reported an increase in airborne influenza viruses during an Asian dust event that impacted air quality in Taiwan; Chen et al., 2010).

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