Marine Geochemistry Lab (MGL)
Welcome to the Marine Geochemistry Lab (MGL) in the Department of Marine and Earth Sciences of The FGCU Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).
Our Lab studies the chemistry of aquatic environments, how aquatic chemistry affects us and how we affect the chemistry of the coastal-marine environments. The coastal-marine ecosystems play important roles in biogeochemical cycling and long-term sequestration of a large amount of natural and human introduced organic compounds and nutrients into the global ocean. These are the most dynamic and exciting environments on the Earth, where the river delivered freshwater, sediments, nutrients and organic compounds/pollutants interact with the seawater. Coasts are the most populated areas in the Earth that and are highly impacted by human activities. The climate change, seal-level rise and ocean acidification have further increased the vulnerability of the coasts.
Our research group uses various analytical tools and techniques to understand source, reactivity, bioavailability, transport and fate of natural organic compounds, organic pollutants, toxins and nutrients in coastal and marine environments, using both direct observations and indirect geochemical proxy-based estimations. We also study effects of ocean acidification on marine life, marine microplastics on organisms, and historic reconstruction of past events such as hurricanes and Florida Red-tides.
Our current research interests are;
- Nutrients
- Florida Red-tides
- Brevetoxin (toxin produced by red tide organism) in water and sediments
- Removal of brevetoxins via vertical sinking
- Distribution, fate and transport of organic contaminants in SWF coastal-marine environments
- Marine Microplastics
- Using radium and stable isotopes to determine nutrients and pollutants sources and fluxes
- Ocean acidification
The Marine Geochemistry Lab has access to various research institutes and research station The Water School at FGCU, where we enjoy working with wonderful colleagues, the waterfront research station, being out in/on spectacular water and enjoy the beautiful Southwest Florida beaches.
Useful links:
https://www.fgcu.edu/directory/padhikari
Vester Research Station: https://www.fgcu.edu/thewaterschool/centers/vestermarine/
Everglades Wetland Research: https://www.fgcu.edu/thewaterschool/centers/ewrp/kapnickcenter
NSF GRFP: https://www.nsfgrfp.org/
Marine Geochemistry Lab 