Belowground Biogeochemistry

This research seeks to improve understanding of soils – or belowground biogeochemistry

biogeochemistry

Studies the cycle of key elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus within Earth's systems. It explores how these elements interact and the factors influencing their cycles.

Source: Oak Ridge Biogeochemical Dynamics Source

– in the global climate system in order to inform predictive models. We conduct experiments to test and improve model representations of soil carbon processes.

soil carbon process

A cycle that moves carbon between plants, animals, and microbes, minerals in the earth, and in the atmosphere.

Source: DOE Source

These field and lab experiments focus on microbial responses

microbial response

Occurs when a microorganism develops a series of strategies to resist environmental stresses.

Source: National Library of Medicine, PubMed Source

and feedbacks, geochemical stabilization,

geochemical stabilization

A process which stabilizes the amount, distribution, or structure of chemical elements in air, water, soil, rocks, and minerals.

Source: USGS Source

and nutrient cycling.

nutrient cycle

The nutrient cycle describes how nutrients move from the physical environment into living organisms and are recycled back to the physical environment.

Source: Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management Toolbox Source