pom202506

The Soil Science Group at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern, studies the fate of trace elements from soils to other environmental compartments. One understudied aspect of the biogeochemical cycle of trace elements is their biovolatilisation by microorganisms into the atmosphere. The team has been measuring emissions of arsenic and antimony species from soils for over 15 years now. They started working at the Jungfraujoch to investigate the occurrence of these volatile species of arsenic and antimony in the atmosphere, that is to say in gaseous phase, particulate form on filters and in snow. The goal is to determine whether these species are present in upper layers of the atmosphere and to identify their exact chemical species. These atmospheric species can return to soils and waters through wet and dry deposition, thereby completing their environmental cycle. Thus, the team aims to deepen their understanding of the atmospheric dynamics of arsenic and antimony from the soils to the atmosphere and back. Pictures: HFSJG

The Soil Science Group at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern, studies the fate of trace elements from soils to other environmental compartments. One understudied aspect of the biogeochemical cycle of trace elements is their biovolatilisation by microorganisms into the atmosphere. The team has been measuring emissions of arsenic and antimony species from soils for over 15 years now. They started working at the Jungfraujoch to investigate the occurrence of these volatile species of arsenic and antimony in the atmosphere, that is to say in gaseous phase, particulate form on filters and in snow. The goal is to determine whether these species are present in upper layers of the atmosphere and to identify their exact chemical species. These atmospheric species can return to soils and waters through wet and dry deposition, thereby completing their environmental cycle. Thus, the team aims to deepen their understanding of the atmospheric dynamics of arsenic and antimony from the soils to the atmosphere and back. Pictures: HFSJG