Biogeophysics

Summary

Biogeophysics is a subdiscipline of geophysics concerned with how plants, microbial activity and other organisms alter geologic materials and affect geophysical signatures.[1]

Introduction edit

The activities of the microbes are measured using geophysical imaging techniques. A lot of these techniques are based on the measurement of electric potential anomalies, which in this case can arise from microbes, their growth, metabolic by-products, and microbially mediated processes. The primary way in which these anomalies are generated can be explained by the electrical double layer. The effects are most visible when low frequency field is used as the surface charge of microbes is of low mobility.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Atekwana, Estella A.; Slater, Lee D. (2009). "Biogeophysics: A new frontier in Earth science research". Reviews of Geophysics. Vol. 47, no. RG4004. Bibcode:2009RvGeo..47.4004A. doi:10.1029/2009RG000285.
  2. ^ Slater, Lee; Atekwana, Estella A. (2011). "Biogeophysics". In Gupta, H. K. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer. pp. 25–29. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7_172. ISBN 978-90-481-8701-0.

Further reading edit

  • Knight, Rosemary; Pyrak-Nolte, Laura J.; Slater, Lee; Atekwana, Estella; et al. (2010). "Geophysics at the interface: Response of geophysical properties to solid-fluid, fluid-fluid, and solid-solid interfaces". Reviews of Geophysics. 48 (RG4002): RG4002. Bibcode:2010RvGeo..48.4002K. doi:10.1029/2007RG000242.
  • Slater, Lee; Atekwana, Estella (2013). "Geophysical signatures of subsurface microbial processes". Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union. 94 (8): 77–78. Bibcode:2013EOSTr..94...77S. doi:10.1002/2013EO080001.

External links edit

  • American Geophysical Union Biogeosciences Section
  • Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences
  • European Geosciences Union (EGU) Division on Biogeosciences (BG)
  • Biogeosciences (journal published by the EGU)
  • Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics