Reduction/Oxidation Flashcards
What makes the biogeochemistry of wetlands unique?
They occur mainly in ANAEROBIC conditions
What are aerobic and anaerobic conditions? give example!
- Aerobic = contain oxygen (e.g. Terrestrial system)
* Anaerobic = oxygenless (e.g. Werlands)
(Check slide 24)
Mention the reduction process that occurs in the wetland in sequence!
- Oxygen reduction
- Nitrate reduction
- Manganese reduction
- Iron reduction
- Sulfate reduction
- Methanogenesis
How can we measure Reduction/Oxidation in wetlands?
By redox potential (Eh) –>
A measure of a soil’s ability to produce oxidation or reduction of chemical species in it
What is the redox potential value range?
+400 mV to -700 mV
(+400 mV indicates aerobic;
-700 mV indicates Methane production)
What’s the most important soil property indicated by the soil Eh?
Whether it is AEROBIC or ANAEROBIC
+ = aerobic; - = anaerobic
What does that mean when the Eh shows a lower value?
The lower the value = the longer the conditions have been anaerobic
What does Eh value tell you?
It tells us exactly which chemical reactions are occurring in the soil
