Researchers review factors that influence the scaling of subsurface reactions
Friday, June 3, 2016 - 06:51
in Earth & Climate
Will a reaction that quickly releases carbon in a test tube work at the same rate over acres of farmland? The answer depends on the scaling factor, a number that is used to increase or decrease the reaction's rate depending on the scale of observation. Four geochemists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) devised a new way to calculate the scaling factor. Their method predicts how rates change from the lab to the field. In creating the formula, they reviewed decades of scientific studies delving into situations, such as microbial growth, that influence reaction rates.