Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026
12:15
A Flow-through Exposure System for Evaluating Suspended Sediments Effects on Aquatic Life
Published on: January 9, 2017
8.9K
Methane Bubble Growth and Migration in Aquatic Sediments Observed by X-ray μCT
Liu Liu1, Tim De Kock2, Jeremy Wilkinson1
1Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau , 76829 Landau, Germany.
Environmental Science & Technology
|January 30, 2018
Summary
Sediment properties control methane bubble formation and movement in aquatic environments. Low strength sediments allow large bubble growth and migration, while high strength sediments favor microbubbles and restricted movement.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Environmental Science
- Sedimentology
Background:
- Methane bubble dynamics are crucial for carbon cycling in aquatic sediments.
- Understanding the influence of sediment mechanics on bubble behavior is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how sediment mechanical properties affect methane bubble growth and transport.
- To characterize bubble formation and migration in clay and sand sediments.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory incubation experiment (20 days) with homogenized clay and sand.
- High-resolution characterization of methane bubble development using micro-computed tomography (μCT).
- Measurement of sediment shear yield strength and observation of bubble migration under reduced hydrostatic pressure.
Main Results:
- Microbubble formation dominated initially, followed by large bubble growth via sediment deformation, enhancing macropore connectivity.
- Large bubble growth (>1 mm) occurred in low shear strength sediments (<100 Pa).
- High shear strength sediments (>360 Pa) resulted in microbubble predominance.
- Bubble migration was enhanced in clay, while in sand, it was limited to the upper 6 cm.
- Macropore networks served as primary pathways for bubble movement and release.
Conclusions:
- Sediment mechanical properties, particularly shear yield strength, significantly control methane bubble size and transport.
- Macropore connectivity plays a critical role in methane release from aquatic sediments.
- The findings improve models of carbon cycling in freshwater systems.
Related Concept Videos
02:18X-ray Crystallography
26.3K
The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
26.3K
01:13Excess Pressure Inside a Drop and a Bubble
3.6K
The shape of a small drop of liquid can be considered spherical, neglecting the effect of gravity. This drop can further be considered as two equal hemispherical drops put together due to surface tension. The forces acting on the spherical drop are due to the pressure of the liquid inside the drop, the pressure due to air outside the drop, and the force due to the surface tension acting on the two hemispherical drops.
3.6K
02:30Naturalistic Observations
17.6K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
17.6K
01:24X-ray Imaging
10.7K
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923) was experimenting with electrical current when he discovered that a mysterious and invisible "ray" would pass through his flesh but leave an outline of his bones on a screen coated with a metal compound. In 1895, Röntgen made the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human: an "X-ray" image (as it came to be called) of his wife’s hand. Scientists worldwide quickly began their own experiments with...
10.7K
00:53Migration
9.0K
Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
9.0K
01:12Observational Learning
1.0K
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
1.0K