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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • biogeophysics

Index Terms

  • Biogeosciences: Biogeophysics
  • Physical Properties of Rocks: Acoustic properties
  • Biogeosciences: Microbe/mineral interactions

Abstract

Microbial-induced heterogeneity in the acoustic properties of porous media

Caroline A. Davis

Geological Sciences and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, USA

Laura J. Pyrak-Nolte

Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Estella A. Atekwana

Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA

D. Dale Werkema Jr.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Marisa E. Haugen

Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

It is not known how biofilms affect seismic wave propagation in porous media. Such knowledge is critical for assessing the utility of seismic techniques for imaging biofilm development and their effects in field settings. Acoustic wave data were acquired over a two-dimensional region of a microbial-stimulated sand column and an unstimulated sand column. The acoustic signals from the unstimulated column were relatively uniform over the 2D scan region. The data from the microbial-stimulated column exhibited a high degree of spatial heterogeneity in the acoustic wave amplitude, with some regions exhibiting significant increases in attenuation while others exhibited decreases. Environmental scanning electron microscopy showed differences in the structure of the biofilm between regions of increased and decreased acoustic wave amplitude. We conclude from these observations that variations in microbial growth and biofilm structure cause heterogeneity in the elastic properties of porous media with implications for the validation of bioclogging models.

Received 10 June 2009; accepted 13 October 2009; published 13 November 2009.

Citation: Davis, C. A., L. J. Pyrak-Nolte, E. A. Atekwana, D. D. Werkema Jr., and M. E. Haugen (2009), Microbial-induced heterogeneity in the acoustic properties of porous media, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L21405, doi:10.1029/2009GL039569.

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