I am looking for empirical findings and/ or assessments on geothermal heat collectors and their impact on soil microbial communities.
Geothermal heat collectors are installed horizontally at 1.0 to 1.5 metres below the surface of the ground.
Based on an Austrian Housing Research Survey from 2006 ("Wärmepumpen, Erdkollektoren, Garten und Wohnqualität") soil temperature differs by 2 to 6 °C between soil with/without collectors (in the depths of the collectors). The total microbial biomass decreases especially in 0-20 cm soil depth.
I would be very grateful for any advice or recommendations for appropriate publications.
Any findings on soil temperature decrease and soil properties are welcome.
Kind regards
Irabella Fuhrmann
Dear Irabella Fuhrmann
I hope this message finds you Irabella Fuhrmann well!
I wanted to share some insights regarding the influence of geothermal heat collectors on soil microbial biomass, which I believe could be quite relevant to this ongoing discussion about sustainable practices in different projects.
Recent studies have shown that the operation of geothermal heat collectors can create localized soil temperature variations that significantly affect microbial activity. For instance, the Austrian Housing Research Survey from 2006 revealed that soils above these collectors can experience temperature differences of 2–6°C, especially during colder months. This temperature shift tends to suppress microbial activity in the upper soil layers, where most biological processes occur, leading to a decrease in microbial biomass. Many microorganisms thrive within specific thermal ranges, and this alteration can disrupt their metabolic efficiency.
Additionally, these temperature changes can lead to shifts in microbial communities, favoring cold-tolerant species and potentially reducing biodiversity. This shift can have cascading effects on essential soil processes, such as organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. Moreover, the heat exchange process may influence soil moisture levels, further complicating microbial dynamics and possibly slowing down decomposition rates.
To better understand and address these challenges, I recommend exploring literature from journals like "Soil Biology and Biochemistry" and case studies on the effects of ground-source heat pumps on soil ecology. It would also be beneficial to investigate research from Austrian and German teams focusing on geothermal installations, as they often provide valuable insights into local climatic and soil implications.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this. How do you Irabella Fuhrmann think we can design or manage geothermal heat collectors to mitigate any adverse effects on microbial biodiversity and promote sustainable soil health? Looking forward to your insights!
A video on this answer can be seen here
https://youtu.be/Bi9dYKZOvEk?si=cfq2HbSBCouwEk0r
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