Postdoc Fellow
Management strategies for acid sulfate soils
Phone: +61 (0)2 612 56769
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6125 0746
E-mail: Ben.Macdonald@anu.edu.au

Professional Activities

Management strategies for acid sulfate soilsCurrently I am investigating acid sulfate soils, which have been described as the nastiest soils in the world. My colleagues and I have discovered that these soils produce significant amounts of greenhouse gases. These soils also release heavy metals and sulfuric acid into nearby waterways. I am also actively involved in the development of management strategies for these soils with industry and government. This research has taken me to field areas in northern NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory and Finland and recently I was the conference director of the 5th International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference.

Selected Publications

1. Macdonald, B.C.T., Denmead, O.T., White, I., Melville M.D., (Accepted). Natural sulfur dioxide emissions from coastal lowland soils. Journal of Atmospheric Environments.

2. Macdonald B.C.T, Smith J, Keene, A.F., Tunks M, and Kinsela, A (Under review). The chemical properties of sediments in a coastal estuarine lake affected by runoff from sulfuric soils. The Science of the Total Environment.

3. Desmier, R., Macdonald, B.C.T., Melville M.D., and Waite T.D (Under review).Characteristics of the acidity in acid sulfate soil surface waters. Applied Geochemistry

4. Desmier, R., Waite T.D, Macdonald, B.C.T., and Melville M.D., (Under review).Quantification of acidity and dissolved metals discharged in episodic drainage water from an acid sulfate soil catchment in N.S.W., Australia. Water, air, soil pollution.

5. Desmier, R., Macdonald, B.C.T., Melville, M.D. and Waite,T.D (Under review). The hydrochemistry of episodic drainage water discharged from an acid sulfate soil catchment in NSW., Australia. The Science of the Total Environment

6. White, I, Smiles, D.E, Santomartino, S., van Oploo, P. Macdonald, B.C.T. and Waite T.D. 2003. Dewatering and the Hydraulic Properties of Soft, Sulfidic, Coastal Clay Soils. Water Resources Research. Water Resour. Res., 39(10):1295-1308