Belowground Biogeochemistry Scientific Focus Area
Laboratory Research Manager:
Task Leads:
Margaret S. Torn, Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, LBNL
Eoin Brodie, Peter Nico, and William Riley, Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, LBNL
Our researchers are improving understanding of processes and developing predictive capacity of soil’s role in global models of ecosystem-climate interactions.
Advances now show that environmental biological controls are more important for soil organic matter (SOM) stability than molecular structure. To integrate these advances, we are designing experiments to test and improve new soil carbon model structures and parameters. These experiments are both in the field and in the laboratory, and include microbial ecology work, advanced imaging, and numerical simulation modeling.
Our current tasks are:
Task 1: Whole-Soil Experiments and Biogeochemistry
Task 2: Microbial Responses and Feedbacks
Task 3: Organic Geochemical Controls on Soil Organic Matter Cycling
Task 4: Soil Biogeochemistry and Carbon Cycle Modeling