Brynmor Saunders
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PhD Title
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Can ocean bubbles help spread diseases? |
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Research Theme
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Environmental Pollution |
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Primary Supervisor
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Primary Institution
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Secondary Supervisor
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Secondary Institution
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Abstract
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Storms at sea are frequent, and so breaking waves and bubbles are a common feature of the ocean surface. As the bubbles move through the water column, they collect organic matter and particles on their surface, and this coating is ejected into the air as tiny aerosol particles when the bubbles burst. It is known that viruses and bacteria can be carried upwards by this mechanism, and that infectious material could travel this way, potentially transporting a local disease to distant areas of the ocean. However, the details and the importance of this mechanism are not understood. The aim of this project is to combine bubble bursting experiments with next-generation DNA sequencing to understand which pathogens are carried and why. The project student will use genetic techniques to compare the pathogens associated with bursting bubbles in different conditions, quantifying the effectiveness of this transport mechanism for the first time. |
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Policy Impact
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This project is unusual in combining experiments simulating a small-scale physical phenomenon with the latest molecular genetic techniques. The study will quantify the capacity of bubbles to spread pathogens through the lower atmosphere for the first time. This is significant for fisheries, generally. |
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Background Reading
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Publications
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None |
