Flow and transport processes in porous media depend on the geometric properties of their pores, where the diameters typically range from micrometers to millimeters. In this study, we mapped the pore structure of glass bead and sand columns using tomography with X-rays, thermal neutrons, and synchrotron radiation. Utilizing X-rays from tubes, we mapped two 2.5and 5.3-cm-diam. sand samples that c...

One of soil microbiology's most intriguing puzzles is how so many different bacterial species can coexist in small volumes of soil when competition theory predicts that less competitive species should decline and eventually disappear. We provide evidence supporting the theory that low pore connectivity caused by low water potential (and therefore low water content) increases the diversity of a ...

The percentage of soil pore space filled with water (percent waterfilled pores, % WFP), as determined by water content and total porosity, appears to be closely related to soil microbial activity under different tillage regimes. Soil incubated in the laboratory at 60% WFP supported maximum aerobic microbial activity as determined by CO2 production and O2 uptake. In the field, % WFP of surface n...

the parameters used to determine the trophic state of a water body are: total phosphorus (tp),transparency (secchi disk depth) and chlorophyll a. however, these parameters show strong seasonalfluctuations which may hinder the estimation of trophic state. some authors have proposed that sediments be used as an additional tool to evaluate the trophic state of a water body. the aim of this study w...

The permeability of reverse osmosis membranes is limited by the diffusive transport of water across a non-porous polyamide active layer. Alternatively, fabricating a microporous active layer capable of rejecting salt ions while allowing for water transport would increase the permeability while maintaining high salt rejection. Zeolites provide a model porous network which is capable of performin...