Quantifying Subsurface Biogeochemical Processes: Innovative Field Experiments and In Situ Measurement Techniques

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Texas A&M University co-sponsored a special session on "Quantifying Subsurface Biogeochemical Processes: Innovative Field Experiments and In Situ Measurement Techniques" (Session B10) at the Spring Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, Baltimore, Maryland, May 23-26, 2006. The session featured several presentations on research conducted at the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program's research site at the Norman Municipal Landfill, Norman, Oklahoma. USGS researchers and their partners have been using unique field experiments to identify the processes that control the natural attenuation of contaminants in ground water.

Background Information

In heterogeneous subsurface environments, identifying and quantifying biogeochemical processes requires innovative field approaches and measurement techniques. This special session brought together geochemists, microbiologists, and hydrologists who use novel approaches to measure microbial processes in the subsurface. Information on the innovative field studies designed to understand processes that occur at chemical, hydrologic, and geologic interfaces in the subsurface were presented. These interfaces include sediment/water interfaces, sediment/vapor interfaces, microbe/mineral interfaces, ground-water/surface water interfaces, plume/ground-water interfaces, and aquifer/aquitard interfaces. Interdisciplinary studies that combine molecular, microbial, and geochemical approaches and use emerging technologies to make fine-scale measurements were featured.

USGS Presentations

• Biogeochemical Cycling at Natural System Interfaces at the Norman Landfill, Norman, OK, by McGuire, J.T., Baez-Cazull, S., Cozzarelli, I.M., Voytek, M.A., Smith, E.W., Kneeshaw, T.A., Kirshstein, J.D.
• Evaluation of Kinetic Controls on SO₄²- Reduction at Experimentally Induced Small-Scale Mixing Interfaces Using Modified Push-Pull Tests in a Landfill-Leachate Contaminated Wetland, Norman Landfill, by Kneeshaw, T.A., McGuire, J.T., Cozzarelli, I.M., Smith, E.W.
• Microbial Community Structure and Function at an Aquifer Contaminated with Landfill Leachate (Norman,OK), by Weiss, J.V., Voytek, M.A., Lowit, M.B., Cozzarelli, I.M., Kirshtein, J.D.
• Integrating Techniques to Understand the Biological Controls on Redox Conditions at Water Table Interfaces in the Subsurface, by Voytek, M.A., Cozzarelli, I.M., Kirshtein, J.D., Böhlke, J.K.

Conveners

• Isabelle Cozzarelli, USGS, icozzare@usgs.gov
• Jennifer McGuire, Texas A&M University, McGuire@geo.tamu.edu
• Johanna Weiss, USGS, jweiss@usgs.gov

General Conference Information

• Conference Home Page
• Session Agenda

More Information

• Organic Compounds in Near-Surface Environments: Understanding Fate in a Changing Biogeochemical Landscape
• Fate of Landfill Leachate, Norman Municipal Landfill, Norman, Oklahoma
• Microbiology and Molecular Ecology of Biogeochemical Cycles in Aquatic Environments
• Biocomplexity in the Environment: Coupled Biogeochemical Cycles

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