The carbonate critical zone studies use transdisciplinary approaches to solve some of the most pressing challenges society faces (e.g., security, scarcity, and uncertainty of water, and carbon sequestration). My research uses geophysical tools, coupling with hydrogeological and biogeochemical information, via observations and modeling, to understand how the fluid-rock interactions are influenced by abiotic and biotic, natural and anthropogenic processes. The findings ofmy work help understand and predict fundamental carbonate critical zone processes such as water flux and storage, interactions between groundwater and surface water, the weathering rate and pattern of the bedrock.

In this talk, I will describe how I use geophysical tools, mainly nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to quantify and predict water storage and fluxes, biogeochemical fluxes, and weathering dynamics in carbonate critical zones. Using a recent study as an example, I will demonstrate how to link laboratory NMR findings with field NMR observations to quantify the key hydrogeological parameters, to update the conceptual model of groundwater flow paths, and to delineate water distribution in unsaturated weathered bedrock in a merokarst system. In addition, this talk will discuss the potential for hydrogeophysics to transform our understanding and modeling of carbonate critical zone processes.