Atmospheric Electricity Influencing Biogeochemical Processes in Soils and Sediments

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geochemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Earth's subsurface is a dynamic electrochemical environment with fluctuating electro-active compounds.
• Variability in these compounds affects soil, water, and sediment ecosystems, particularly microbial life.
• Existing understanding of subsurface electrochemistry drivers is incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of atmospheric electricity (AE) on subsurface electrochemical environments.
• To explore the implications of AE variations for organisms and ecosystem processes.
• To identify AE as a potential driver of spatio-temporal variability in subsurface electrochemistry.

Main Methods:

• Field studies measuring subsurface redox conditions in soils and sediments.
• Laboratory experiments assessing bacterial respiratory responses to atmospheric cation changes.
• Analysis of correlations between AE variations and subsurface redox patterns.

Main Results:

• Evidence found for local and global AE variations correlating with subsurface redox patterns.
• Laboratory studies demonstrated a causal link between atmospheric cation concentrations and bacterial respiration, electron transport, and H2S production.
• Observed patterns suggest an overlooked phenomenon influencing subsurface biogeochemical processes.

Conclusions:

• Atmospheric electricity variations significantly impact subsurface electrochemistry and microbial activity.
• AE is a crucial, yet underappreciated, factor in regulating soil and sediment environments.
• This research expands the understanding of atmosphere-subsurface interactions and their ecological relevance.