Prof. Orit Sivan |
Research InterestsGlobal warming, greenhouse gasses, carbon cycle, water crisis, coastal aquifers, biogeochemistry, chemical oceanography
My research interest is to explore fundamental biogeochemical processes across different types of interfaces, including the sediment-water interface and the fresh-saline groundwater interface in coastal aquifers, using a quantitative geochemical approach. Most of our research group specifically emphasizes on using isotope ratios to quantify anaerobic microbially mediated processes at these interfaces. The ultimate goal is to improve our understanding on the redox cycling of important species involved in these interactions, and the biogeochemical evolution and related quality of porewater and groundwater. Our research deals with environmental issues that are related to global climate change (including the production and consumption rates of the greenhouse gas methane and the effect of seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers). We combine field-work, laboratory experiments, chemical measurements, and reactive-transport models. |
Research Projects
1. Methanogenesis and anaerobic methanotrophy in aquatic sediments
2. Microbial iron reduction in the methanic zone and its link to sulfur and nitrogen cycles
3. The effect of seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers on biogeochemical processes in the fresh-saline groundwater interface
4. The potential use of saline groundwater for desalination
5. The effect of Dead Sea level decrease on biogeochemical processes in the fresh-saline groundwater interface
2. Microbial iron reduction in the methanic zone and its link to sulfur and nitrogen cycles
3. The effect of seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers on biogeochemical processes in the fresh-saline groundwater interface
4. The potential use of saline groundwater for desalination
5. The effect of Dead Sea level decrease on biogeochemical processes in the fresh-saline groundwater interface
Roles
- Head of Ben Gurion University marine center
- Head of the Environmental division within the Geological and Environmental Sciences Department at Ben Gurion University
- Head of the Environmental division within the Geological and Environmental Sciences Department at Ben Gurion University
Other activities
- Personal link - Jewelry
- Associate Editor in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
- Links to Duchenne Muscular Distrophy: www.littlesteps.org.il, and הדבורים של אפי
- Associate Editor in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
- Links to Duchenne Muscular Distrophy: www.littlesteps.org.il, and הדבורים של אפי