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Research Challenges

We have defined three Challenges that will allow us to test the benefits of the Systems Framework. Each of the following Challenges will explore the linkages between fundamental processes and overall system responses at different spatial scales. Each challenge will be carried out by a multi-disciplinary research team and will be tested at a DOE-relevant field study site.

• The Unraveling Biogeochemical Pathways Challenge is motivated by the recognition that sustainable bioremediation requires a predictive understanding of the governing complex biogeochemical pathways. This challenge will focus on characterizing critical and interrelated microbial metabolic and geochemical mechanisms associated with in situ reductive immobilization and reoxidation from the molecular to the local (push-pull) field scale, as needed to assess long-term sustainability of Chromium biostimulation. The three hypothesis associated with this challenge will be carried out via interrelated tasks using biomolecular, spectroscopic, isotopic, and reactive transport modeling approaches, and will be tested at the chromium contaminated Hanford 100 Site.
• The Evolution of Pore Structures and Flowpaths Challenge focuses on development of a predictive understanding of how remediation-induced biogeochemical transformations modify the connectivity of the pore structure and how those changes are manifested at the field scale as is needed to design, execute, and interpret sustainable in situ treatments. Three hypotheses associated with this challenge will be carried out via integrated tasks using synchrotron, isotopic, geophysical, and reactive transport modeling approaches, which will be tested at the Uranium contaminated Rifle, CO site in collaboration with the IFC team.
• The Predicting Contaminant Mobility at the Plume Scale Challenge is motivated by the recognition that predictions of contaminant evolution, migration, and remediation efficacy at the plume scale often fail because of the great simplifications that are typically made in the representation of subsurface heterogeneity and coupled hydrobiogeochemical processes. This challenge explores a "reactive facies" concept as an organizing principle to integrate laboratory-obtained information about rates and mechanisms with field-based hydrogeological characterization as needed to make reliable and computationally tractable predictions of plume evolution. The challenge includes a formal evaluation of the benefit of increasing complexity on successful predictions of contaminant mobility over stewardship timeframes. The research will be carried out through integrated laboratory geochemical experiments, synchrotron, isotopic, geophysical, and reactive transport modeling. In collaboration with EM-supported SRNL scientists, the resulting reactive transport model will be used to assess the natural attenuation capacity of the acidic, Uranium and Strontium plume at the F-Area of the Savannah River Site.

The defined challenges will: address complex, multi-scale subsurface problems; utilize LBNL's expertise in processes investigative methods that span the molecular to the field scales; promote synergy through multi-disciplinary and team-based research; utilize BER facilities; and leverage on other ERSP and EM investments. In addition to research performed under the three Challenge Areas, the LBNL SFA includes an Exploratory conduit that encourages the development of individual projects germane to Sustainable Systems and the participation of new investigators. The Sustainable Systems SFA research portfolio is scientifically rich and is expected to facilitate the development of system behavior insights necessary for incorporation of physical, chemical and biological processes into as needed to guide sustainable environmental stewardship.