Sulfate reduction in natural water bodies: 2. Empirical models for process rate assessment

Abstract

Empirical models that are used to assess sulfate reduction rates in the aquatic environment and bot- tom sediments of water bodies are discussed. Such models, with different detail, take into account the effect of the major habitat factors (the concentrations of organic matter, its components, and sulfates; ambient tempera- ture; the numbers and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria) on matter oxidation transformation during the sul- fate reduction process. Improvements in the empirical models are proposed with the aim to more adequately account for the effect of environmental factors on the sulfate reduction rate distribution in water bodies. Vali- dation of such models and the assessment of their parameters are demonstrated against available observational data collected at appropriate water bodies.