Concepts
70 concepts
biogeochemical reactions
weathering
nitrogen pollution
Human-induced nitrogen input that has doubled biologically-available nitrogen on Earth
dissolved organic matter
Major form of organic carbon across aquatic ecosystems, fueling stream metabolism and mediating key biogeochemical processes
metal concentrations
CO2 flux
pH
dissolved oxygen
reactive transport
nitrate removal
Removal of nitrate from porewater through denitrification and other biogeochemical processes
redox reactions
aerobic respiration
petrogenic organic carbon
Organic carbon derived from sedimentary rocks that is often poorly quantified and influences soil organic carbon composition, age, and stability
reactive transport modeling
Modeling approach that couples transport processes with geochemical reactions to understand subsurface flow and chemical interactions
biogeochemical heterogeneity
Spatial variability in biogeochemical processes and solute sources within watersheds, particularly between shallow soil zones and deeper groundwater zones
pyrite oxidation
Oxidative dissolution of pyrite mineral producing sulfuric acid and iron oxides under oxic conditions
isotopic fractionation
iron redox cycling
anaerobic methane oxidation
Microbial process where methane is oxidized under anoxic conditions, often coupled to reduction of alternative electron acceptors
nitrification
The oxidation of ammonia to nitrate via nitrite, linking nitrogenous organic matter remineralization to nitrogen loss processes in the microbial N-cycle
shale weathering
Chemical and physical breakdown of sedimentary shale rocks through interactions with water, atmospheric gases, and biological processes
DIC export
acid-base interactions
biogeochemical hot spots
Areas of disproportionately high biogeochemical activity or export relative to surrounding landscape
end-member mixing
redox zonation
Spatial organization of aerobic and anaerobic zones based on dissolved oxygen availability that controls biogeochemical reactions
Iron oxidation
Michaelis-Menten kinetics
sulfate reduction
Microbial reduction of sulfate coupled to organic matter oxidation in anoxic environments resulting in formation of low solubility sulfide minerals
CO2
metal mobilisation
saturation index
sorption
N-limited
iron oxides
redox gradients
Spatial variations in oxidation-reduction conditions within floodplain environments that can form within microsites, along textural transitions, or along the capillary fringe
uranium mineralogy
The association of uranium with different solid-phase mineral forms that influences uranium mobility between solid and water phases
Fe(II)-NOM complexation
Formation of coordination complexes between Fe(II) ions and natural organic matter ligands
chemostasis
decomposition rates
mineral dissolution kinetics
Rate laws governing the chemical breakdown of primary minerals as functions of temperature, pH, and saturation state
nutrient acquisition depth
Vertical distribution of plant nutrient uptake from soil surface through saprolite to bedrock
weathering front
Zone of active mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions that advances through bedrock over time
