Berg, Peter
Primary Appointment
Research Professor, Environmental Sciences
Contact Information
PO Box 400123
351 Clark Hall
Telephone: 434-924-1318
Fax: 434-982-2137
Email: pb8n@virginia.edu
Website: http://faculty.virginia.edu/berg/
Research Disciplines
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 Description
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.