Oxygen depletion in Hamburg Elbe sediments

Project description

The oxygen concentration in the Elbe is controlled by various abiotic and biotic processes. Sediment particles consume oxygen in-situ as well as during resuspension. While the processes are generally known, a more detailed understanding and quantification of oxygen depletion is still pending. The project therefore pursues the following goals:

1. the development of adequate laboratory methods for measuring the oxygen depletion of fresh sediments;
2. the analysis of oxygen depletion of sediments of different origin and age from the Port of Hamburg;
3. the development of modelling approaches to estimate oxygen depletion in larger areas and over longer periods of time.

Employees at the Institute of Soil Science

• Doctoral candidate: Mathias Spieckermann