Linking Redox-Cycling to Hydrogeology: Sedimentological Controls on the Capacity of Aquifers to Reduce Nitrate and other Dissolved Electron Acceptors (SeCuNDA)
Principal Investigators
- Prof. Dr. Adrian Mellage, University of Kassel, Hydrogeology
- Prof. Dr. Jan-Peter Duda, University of Göttingen, Geobiology
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Olaf A. Cirpka, University of Tübingen, Hydrogeology
- Prof. Dr. Christian Griebler, University of Vienna, Limnology
Funding Institution and Period
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 2022-2026
The aim of the work is to advance the process-based understanding of the sedimentological, hydrogeological and microbial-ecological controls that modulate the ability of aquifers to reduce the agricultural contaminant, nitrate, via denitrification. Specifically, we seek to quantitatively link aquifer hydraulic and biogeochemical properties with the “reactivity” of aquifer sediments. Via coupled hydrogeological, sedimentological and microbiological field and lab investigations and reactive transport modelling, the project aims to yield reliable estimates of aquifer-specific reactivity to feed larger scale predictive models.