A model-experiment workflow for 2D pore scale micromodels from X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) images
EMSL Project ID
61069
Abstract
Climate change is amplifying soil disturbances with impacts to water and nutrient transport within pore networks at the aggregate scale. Pore deformation alters pore connectivity, pore throat size distribution, and pore volumetric fractions. Evaluating pore network change following disturbance across contrasting sites can provide an initial step in predicting echoing impacts to biogeochemical processes. Creating pore network change following disturbance into 2D soil synthetic environments, such as a pore scale micromodel for lab and field experiments will allow for pore-scale investigations of how site-specific disturbance influences microbial nutrient scavenging, mineral weathering, microscale redox gradients, and carbon desorption and greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we aim to use existing 3D XCT-derived pore network data showing freeze-thaw deformation to create representative 2D pore network connectivity. The 2D pore networks from XCT segmented images will be used to generate pore scale micromodels (with the aim to upscale and calibrate PFLOTRAN process models) for laboratory and field experiments. This workflow will allow us to derisk and perform feasibility studies towards PFLOTRAN model – TerraForms (+ XCT) data integration.
Project Details
Project type
Limited Scope
Start Date
2024-01-18
End Date
N/A
Status
Active
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members