Research Interest
Soils regulate our climate, water, and food systems — yet they remain among the least understood systems on Earth. Physical, chemical, and biological processes interact simultaneously across scales, and even well-studied phenomena like water flow still lack reliable theoretical descriptions. We develop new theory and test it against cutting-edge experimental data.
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☘ Observe We quantify water, solute, and heat fluxes at pore, lab, and field scale using state-of-the-art instrumentation. |
ƒ Model We develop and apply numerical models, inverse methods, and SPAC system models to test theory against observations. |
∞ Integrate We bridge scales — from individual pores to fields — connecting fundamental research to real-world challenges. |
Research Topics
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◆ Soil hydraulic properties Measuring and modelling water retention and hydraulic conductivity, including dynamic non-equilibrium, hysteresis, and contact angle effects — from pore to field scale. |
◆ Soil structure & X-ray μCT Using X-ray micro-computed tomography to visualise pore architecture at high resolution and link pore geometry to macroscopic soil physical behaviour. |
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◆ Solute & heat transport Coupled transport of solutes and heat through soils, including preferential and non-Fickian transport, and reactive transport of natural toxins and pesticides. |
◆ Soil physical health modelling Quantifying and predicting soil functions across scales, with a focus on sustainable land use, soil degradation, and long-term consequences of management practices. |
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◆ Inverse modelling & uncertainty Estimating soil physical parameters from experimental data using inverse methods, including Bayesian approaches for rigorous quantification of prediction uncertainty. |
◆ Plant–soil interactions Root water uptake, rhizosphere processes, and transport of root exudates through the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum, linking experiments with SPAC modelling tools (with collaborations). |
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Methods
| ■ | Experimental quantification — water flow, solute and heat transport at various spatial and temporal scales |
| ■ | Soil physical properties — characterisation at pore and continuum scale, including X-ray μCT imaging |
| ■ | Numerical modelling — simulating water flow, solute and heat transport including preferential flow |
| ■ | SPAC modelling — soil-plant-atmosphere continuum tools (Daisy, daisy.ku.dk) |
| ■ | Inverse modelling — parameter estimation and model prediction uncertainty quantification |