Arduino project 2

Finally, today I got almost all arduino parts to make the automated valve. I have found many useful blogs and forum from which I can get help but I still have some hard time to figure out what all small parts are intended for.
But for now, I would like to introduce the design I am thinking.

DIC analyzer and automated samples which I am going to make.

Ok, can I do this? Emm, it is going to be not easy but it worth to try.

Arduino project

I know there are many genius out there. But when I look at people working on electricity, I think they are really smart! How come they know all circuits and make it work.
Now, I also want to learn about electricity and make some useful tools. So, I have tried to find people out there who willingly teach me and share their knowledge with free of charge. It seems like people in a remote control world are the best I found. However, I have to spend much money to participate in their meeting (i.e., buying stuff). But I can't afford that much money.

My adviser, Jeff, asked me to make some automated sampler for one equipment which we just purchase on August. This equipment is to measure dissolved carbon in water. Unfortunately, it takes long time to finish one sample. That's why he asked me to think or invent an automated tool. Now, I feel like I find my new hobby: Arduino. It is kind of small scale computer but more flexible and unlimited! And CHEAP!

My first Arduino main board!

So, this is Arduino main board. I am going to make a rotating valve on which many samples will be connected. The valve needs to communicate with computer and Arduino to ensure the timing of switching between samples with the measurement.

I can be hard,,very hard to me because I have no experience in computer language and electricity. But I am ready to do it.

Life in the Dead Zone project

o far I have worked in Life in the Dead Zone project for about 3 months. I went to total 3 cruises including a one-week long cruise (LDZ4) and two one-day boat (LDZ5 & 6). Most of data are analyzed with DIC analyzer and membrane inlet mass spectrometer. Unfortunately, I had badly cut my finger and lost some skin due to broken glass vial but I am glad my wound is not so bad.

Classes are also begun from the last week: Environmental Geo Chem I and Oil spill seminar this 2010 fall semester. It is going to be fun, difficult, but most importantly very useful for my study.

Today, I have finally made two important plot: Scanfish plot of LDZ4 and DIC flux from sediment of LDZ 4.

LDZ4 Scanfish (oxygen, salinity, temperature, fluorescence)

In the figure above, most importantly, dead zone (no oxygen) was clearly observed below about 10 m in the mesohaline (middle) of Chesapeake Bay. Then, was there any living organisms which can produce energy by performing respiration without oxygen?

Dissolved inorganic carbon measurement

Not many studies have measured DIC in the dead zone. The figure above clearly shows that there are heterotrophic and/or chemoautotrophic bacteria using other electron acceptors other than oxygen alone. Now, I am very excited to show people that there are lives in the dead zone!