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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Transport zonation limits coupled nitrification-denitrification in permeable sediments.

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Investigating nitrogen cycling in permeable sediments is challenging. This study used a novel technique to reveal how nitrification and denitrification are limited by water flow in sand ripples.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Biogeochemical processes in permeable sediments, like the hyporheic zone, are complex due to multidimensional advective transport.
  • Nitrogen cycling, involving coupled redox-sensitive reactions, is particularly difficult to measure in these environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the coupling between ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification in stationary sand ripples.
  • To provide detailed insights into nitrogen cycling dynamics in complex permeable sediments.

Main Methods:

  • Combined the diffusion equilibrium thin layer (DET) gel technique with a computational reactive transport biogeochemical model.
  • Utilized DET to obtain high-resolution 2D distributions of nitrate (NO3-) and 15N-N2 gas.
  • Employed isotope pairing calculations to analyze nitrogen transformation pathways.

Main Results:

  • High-resolution 2D profiles of NO3- and 15N-N2 gas were obtained and correlated with model simulations.
  • A deep pool of N2 gas was observed forming and advecting to the surface below ripple peaks.
  • Coupled nitrification-denitrification was found to be severely limited by limited interaction between oxic and anoxic pore water due to the flow and transport field.

Conclusions:

  • The combined DET and modeling approach offers detailed insight into subsurface denitrification zones in complex permeable sediments.
  • Flow and transport fields significantly limit the coupling of nitrification and denitrification in permeable sediments.
  • Understanding these limitations is crucial for accurately assessing nitrogen cycling in aquatic and terrestrial subsurface environments.