Smucker, A.J.M., S. Peth, p. Albee, R. Horn
Presented at the All Scientist Poster Reception (2007-05-14 to 2007-05-14 )
Soils are source and sink of carbon and are major contributors to the partitioning of greenhouse gasses. The relevance of soil structure and particularly the formation and stability of soil aggregates for long term sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC) is well known. However, the interactive effects between soil biota and biophysical and biogeochemical processes depend on the spatial arrangement of voids and the continuity of the pore-network within soil aggregates. Advances in synchrotron X-ray microtomography (CMT) and the development of algorithms that present visual and numeric quantification of porous media, from reconstructed 3D-images, offer new approaches for identifying new mechanisms involved in carbon sequestration and the stabilization of soil aggregates. 3D visualization significantly contributes to our understanding of these various mechanisms controlling soil pore development during wetting/drying cycles. This new knowledge supports the interpretations of physical, chemical and biological properties on the sub aggregate scale and will improve the prediction of solution and biological flux rates in soil ecosystems that lead to greater terrestrial C sequestration. 3D visualization significantly contributes to our understanding of these various mechanisms controlling soil pore development during wetting/drying cycles. This new knowledge supports the interpretations of physical, chemical and biological properties on the sub aggregate scale and will improve the prediction of solution and biological flux rates in soil ecosystems that lead to greater terrestrial C sequestration.
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