Peter Berg

Research Professor, Environmental Sciences

Primary Location

PO Box 400123
351 Clark Hall

Primary Phone Number

434.924.1318

Fax Number

434.982.2137

[email protected]

Website

http://faculty.virginia.edu/berg/

Bio & Overview

Welcome to the Aquatic Eddy Covariance Research Lab at the University of Virginia. We work with the eddy covariance technique, also known as the eddy correlation technique, for underwater flux measurements in three main areas: In situ applications in various aquatic environments to address research questions on carbon and nutrient cycling. Sensor development and flux calculation approaches to further advance the technique. Training and education. The aquatic eddy covariance technique was adapted from the atmospheric boundary layer to the benthic environment by Peter Berg and the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany. The first proof of concept paper focusing on oxygen fluxes for different benthic ecosystems was published in 2003 (Berg et al. 2003), and since then an increasing number of groups have adopted the approach The technique is more expensive and challenging to apply than traditional benthic flux methods, but it has several unique advantages: Measurements can be made without disturbing the natural light and flow conditions. The flux contributing area on the benthic surface covers many square-meters. Flux estimates are usually produced at high temporal resolution, typically on the order of minutes. The technique can be applied in environments where traditional enclosure methods are difficult to use, including highly permeable sediments, seagrass meadows, coral and oyster reefs, and also sea-ice surfaces (see Gallery). For most benthic ecosystems, the eddy covariance technique represents the closest we come today to measuring true in situ fluxes. The technique has been used in the atmospheric boundary layer for many decades, and it is by far the most common approach for measuring fluxes between land and air. We hope to see a similar development for the aquatic environment as more experience is gained with the technique and more sensors are being developed. This research is made possible by funding and support from the University of Virginia and the National Science Foundation.

Academic Information

Department: Environmental Sciences

Research Interests

1) Use and further development of the eddy correlation technique for measuring fluxes in the benthic environment. See my web site for details. 2) Applied modeling of transport phenomena and biogeochemical processes in the benthic environment.

Research Disciplines

Environmental Sciences

Selected Publications

2024

Attard, K., Singh, R. K., Gattuso, J. -P., Dexter, K. F., Krause-Jensen, D., Kuhl, M., . . . Rysgaard, S. (2024). Seafloor primary production in a changing Arctic Ocean. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 121(11). doi:10.1073/pnas.2303366121

2023

Smith, A. J., McGlathery, K., Chen, Y., Lewis, C. J. E., Doney, S. C., Gedan, K., . . . Kirwan, M. L. (2024). Compensatory Mechanisms Absorb Regional Carbon Losses Within a Rapidly Shifting Coastal Mosaic (vol 27, pg 122, 2024). ECOSYSTEMS, 27(2), 360. doi:10.1007/s10021-023-00888-4

Smith, A. J., McGlathery, K., Chen, Y., Lewis, C. J. E., Doney, S. C., Gedan, K., . . . Kirwan, M. L. (2024). Compensatory Mechanisms Absorb Regional Carbon Losses Within a Rapidly Shifting Coastal Mosaic. ECOSYSTEMS, 27(1), 122-136. doi:10.1007/s10021-023-00877-7

Marino, R., Hayn, M., Howarth, R. W., Giblin, A. E., Mcglathery, K. J., & Berg, P. (2023). Nitrogen fixation associated with epiphytes on the seagrass Zostera marina in a temperate lagoon with moderate to high nitrogen loads. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, 166(3), 211-226. doi:10.1007/s10533-023-01083-2

Bansal, S., Creed, I. F., Tangen, B. A., Bridgham, S. D., Desai, A. R., Krauss, K. W., . . . Zhu, X. (2023). Practical Guide to Measuring Wetland Carbon Pools and Fluxes. WETLANDS, 43(8). doi:10.1007/s13157-023-01722-2

Berg, P., & Huettel, M. (2023). Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS, 8(6), 867-875. doi:10.1002/lol2.10345

Maciute, A., Holovachov, O., Glud, R. N., Broman, E., Berg, P., Nascimento, F. J. A., & Bonaglia, S. (2023). Reconciling the importance of meiofauna respiration for oxygen demand in muddy coastal sediments. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY. doi:10.1002/lno.12393

Granville, K. E., Berg, P., & Huettel, M. (2023). A high-resolution submersible oxygen optode system for aquatic eddy covariance. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 21(3), 152-163. doi:10.1002/lom3.10535

2022

Juska, I., & Berg, P. (2022). Variation in seagrass meadow respiration measured by aquatic eddy covariance. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS, 7(5), 410-418. doi:10.1002/lol2.10276

2021

Berg, P., Huettel, M., Glud, R. N., Reimers, C. E., & Attard, K. M. (2022). Aquatic Eddy Covariance: The Method and Its Contributions to Defining Oxygen and Carbon Fluxes in Marine Environments. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE, 14, 431-455. doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-042121-012329

Maciute, A., Holovachov, O., Berg, P., Glud, R. N., Broman, E., Nascimento, F. J. A., & Bonaglia, S. (2021). A microsensor-based method for measuring respiration of individual nematodes. METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, 12(10), 1841-1847. doi:10.1111/2041-210X.13674

2020

Jameson, B. D., Berg, P., Grundle, D. S., Stevens, C. J., & Juniper, S. K. (2021). Continental margin sediments underlying the NE Pacific oxygen minimum zone are a source of nitrous oxide to the water column. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS, 6(2), 68-76. doi:10.1002/lol2.10174

Oreska, M. P. J., McGlathery, K. J., Aoki, L. R., Berger, A. C., Berg, P., & Mullins, L. (2020). The greenhouse gas offset potential from seagrass restoration. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-64094-1

Berg, P., Pace, M. L., & Buelo, C. D. (2020). Air-water gas exchange in lakes and reservoirs measured from a moving platform by underwater eddy covariance. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 18(8), 424-436. doi:10.1002/lom3.10373

Berger, A. C., Berg, P., McGlathery, K. J., & Delgard, M. L. (2020). Long-term trends and resilience of seagrass metabolism: A decadal aquatic eddy covariance study. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 65(7), 1423-1438. doi:10.1002/lno.11397

2019

Volaric, M. P., Berg, P., & Reidenbach, M. A. (2019). An invasive macroalga alters ecosystem metabolism and hydrodynamics on a tidal flat. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, 628, 1-16. doi:10.3354/meps13143

Berg, P., Delgard, M. L., Polsenaere, P., McGlathery, K. J., Doney, S. C., & Berger, A. C. (2019). Dynamics of benthic metabolism, O₂, and pCO₂ in a temperate seagrass meadow. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 64(6), 2586-2604. doi:10.1002/lno.11236

Attard, K. M., Rodil, I. F., Glud, R. N., Berg, P., Norkko, J., & Norkko, A. (2019). Seasonal ecosystem metabolism across shallow benthic habitats measured by aquatic eddy covariance. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS, 4(3), 79-86. doi:10.1002/lol2.10107

2018

Attard, K. M., Rodil, I. F., Berg, P., Norkko, J., Norkko, A., & Glud, R. N. (2019). Seasonal metabolism and carbon export potential of a key coastal habitat: The perennial canopy-forming macroalga Fucus vesiculosus. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 64(1), 149-164. doi:10.1002/lno.11026

Merikhi, A., Berg, P., Meyer, V., & Huettel, M. (2018). Jet-nozzle method for measuring response times of scalar sensors used in liquids and gases. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 16(8), 475-483. doi:10.1002/lom3.10259

Volaric, M. P., Berg, P., & Reidenbach, M. A. (2018). Oxygen metabolism of intertidal oyster reefs measured by aquatic eddy covariance. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, 599, 75-91. doi:10.3354/meps12627

2017

Berg, P., & Pace, M. L. (2017). Continuous measurement of air-water gas exchange by underwater eddy covariance. doi:10.5194/bg-2017-340

Berg, P., Delgard, M. L., Glud, R. N., Huettel, M., Reimers, C. E., & Pace, M. L. (2017). Non‐invasive flux Measurements at the Benthic Interface: The Aquatic Eddy Covariance Technique. Limnology and Oceanography e-Lectures, 7(1), 1-50. doi:10.1002/loe2.10005

Berg, P., & Pace, M. L. (2017). Continuous measurement of air-water gas exchange by underwater eddy covariance. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 14(23), 5595-5606. doi:10.5194/bg-14-5595-2017

2016

Glud, R. N., Berg, P., Stahl, H., Hume, A., Larsen, M., Eyre, B. D., & Cook, P. L. M. (2016). Benthic Carbon Mineralization and Nutrient Turnover in a Scottish Sea Loch: An Integrative In Situ Study. AQUATIC GEOCHEMISTRY, 22(5-6), 443-467. doi:10.1007/s10498-016-9300-8

Reimers, C. E., Ozkan-Haller, H. T., Albright, A. T., & Berg, P. (2016). Microelectrode Velocity Effects and Aquatic Eddy Covariance Measurements under Waves. JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC TECHNOLOGY, 33(2), 263-282. doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0041.1

Chipman, L., Berg, P., & Huettel, M. (2016). Benthic Oxygen Fluxes Measured by Eddy Covariance in Permeable Gulf of Mexico Shallow-Water Sands. AQUATIC GEOCHEMISTRY, 22(5-6), 529-554. doi:10.1007/s10498-016-9305-3

2015

Berg, P., Koopmans, D. J., Huettel, M., Li, H., Mori, K., & Wueest, A. (2016). A new robust oxygen-temperature sensor for aquatic eddy covariance measurements. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 14(3), 151-167. doi:10.1002/lom3.10071

Berg, P., Reimers, C. E., Rosman, J. H., Huettel, M., Delgard, M. L., Reidenbach, M. A., & Özkan-Haller, T. (2015). Technical Note: Time lag correction of aquatic eddy covariance data measured in the presence of waves. doi:10.5194/bgd-12-8395-2015

Long, M. H., Berg, P., McGlathery, K. J., & Zieman, J. C. (2015). Sub-tropical seagrass ecosystem metabolism measured by eddy covariance. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, 529, 75-90. doi:10.3354/meps11314

Berg, P., Reimers, C. E., Rosman, J. H., Huettel, M., Delgard, M. L., Reidenbach, M. A., & Ozkan-Haller, H. T. (2015). Technical note: Time lag correction of aquatic eddy covariance data measured in the presence of waves. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 12(22), 6721-6735. doi:10.5194/bg-12-6721-2015

Koopmans, D. J., & Berg, P. (2015). Stream oxygen flux and metabolism determined with the open water and aquatic eddy covariance techniques. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 60(4), 1344-1355. doi:10.1002/lno.10103

2014

Rheuban, J. E., Berg, P., & McGlathery, K. J. (2014). Ecosystem metabolism along a colonization gradient of eelgrass (Zostera marina) measured by eddy correlation. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 59(4), 1376-1387. doi:10.4319/lo.2014.59.4.1376

Rheuban, J. E., Berg, P., & McGlathery, K. J. (2014). Multiple timescale processes drive ecosystem metabolism in eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, 507, 1-13. doi:10.3354/meps10843

2013

Howarth, R. W., Hayn, M., Marino, R. M., Ganju, N., Foreman, K., McGlathery, K., . . . Walker, J. D. (2014). Metabolism of a nitrogen-enriched coastal marine lagoon during the summertime. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, 118(1-3), 1-20. doi:10.1007/s10533-013-9901-x

Hayn, M., Howarth, R., Marino, R., Ganju, N., Berg, P., Foreman, K. H., . . . McGlathery, K. (2014). Exchange of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Between a Shallow Lagoon and Coastal Waters. ESTUARIES AND COASTS, 37(1), S63-S73. doi:10.1007/s12237-013-9699-8

Reidenbach, M. A., Berg, P., Hume, A., Hansen, J. C. R., & Whitman, E. R. (2013). Hydrodynamics of intertidal oyster reefs: The influence of boundary layer flow processes on sediment and oxygen exchange. Limnology and Oceanography: Fluids and Environments, 3(1), 225-239. doi:10.1215/21573689-2395266

Berg, P., Long, M. H., Huettel, M., Rheuban, J. E., McGlathery, K. J., Howarth, R. W., . . . Marino, R. (2013). Eddy correlation measurements of oxygen fluxes in permeable sediments exposed to varying current flow and light. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 58(4), 1329-1343. doi:10.4319/lo.2013.58.4.1329

Rheuban, J. E., & Berg, P. (2013). The effects of spatial and temporal variability at the sediment surface on aquatic eddy correlation flux measurements. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 11, 351-359. doi:10.4319/lom.2013.11.351

Long, M. H., Berg, P., de Beer, D., & Zieman, J. C. (2013). In Situ Coral Reef Oxygen Metabolism: An Eddy Correlation Study. PLOS ONE, 8(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058581

2012

Chipman, L., Huettel, M., Berg, P., Meyer, V., Klimant, I., Glud, R., & Wenzhoefer, F. (2012). Oxygen optodes as fast sensors for eddy correlation measurements in aquatic systems. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 10, 304-316. doi:10.4319/lom.2012.10.304

Reimers, C. E., Oezkan-Haller, H. T., Berg, P., Devol, A., McCann-Grosvenor, K., & Sanders, R. D. (2012). Benthic oxygen consumption rates during hypoxic conditions on the Oregon continental shelf: Evaluation of the eddy correlation method. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS, 117. doi:10.1029/2011JC007564

Long, M. H., Koopmans, D., Berg, P., Rysgaard, S., Glud, R. N., & Sogaard, D. H. (2012). Oxygen exchange and ice melt measured at the ice-water interface by eddy correlation. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 9(6), 1957-1967. doi:10.5194/bg-9-1957-2012

Long, M. H., Rheuban, J. E., Berg, P., & Zieman, J. C. (2012). A comparison and correction of light intensity loggers to photosynthetically active radiation sensors. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 10, 416-424. doi:10.4319/lom.2012.10.416

2011

Long, M. H., Koopmans, D., Berg, P., Rysgaard, S., Glud, R. N., & Søgaard, D. H. (2011). Oxygen exchange and ice melt measured at the ice-water interface by eddy correlation. doi:10.5194/bgd-8-11255-2011

Koopmans, D., & Berg, P. (2011). An alternative to traditional seepage meters: Dye displacement. Water Resources Research, 47(1). doi:10.1029/2010wr009113

McGinnis, D. F., Cherednichenko, S., Sommer, S., Berg, P., Rovelli, L., Schwarz, R., . . . Linke, P. (2011). Simple, robust eddy correlation amplifier for aquatic dissolved oxygen and hydrogen sulfide flux measurements. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS, 9, 340-347. doi:10.4319/lom.2011.9.340

2010

Hume, A. C., Berg, P., & McGlathery, K. J. (2011). Dissolved oxygen fluxes and ecosystem metabolism in an eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadow measured with the eddy correlation technique. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 56(1), 86-96. doi:10.4319/lo.2011.56.1.0086

Glud, R. N., Berg, P., Hume, A., Batty, P., Blicher, M. E., Lennert, K., & Rysgaard, S. (2010). Benthic O₂ exchange across hard-bottom substrates quantified by eddy correlation in a sub-Arctic fjord. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, 417, 1-12. doi:10.3354/meps08795

Lorrai, C., McGinnis, D. F., Berg, P., Brand, A., & Wueest, A. (2010). Application of Oxygen Eddy Correlation in Aquatic Systems. JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC TECHNOLOGY, 27(9), 1533-1546. doi:10.1175/2010JTECHO723.1