Case Study: Utrecht University advances ocean acidification research with COMSOL Multiphysics simulation

Utrecht University models deep-sea shell dissolution in 3D with Comsol in 1 minute

Utrecht University researchers faced a challenge in understanding a key ocean biogeochemical process. They needed to study how dissolving aragonite seashells from creatures like sea butterflies protect calcite in deep-sea sediments and help maintain oceanic alkalinity, but direct observation at the seafloor was nearly impossible. To investigate this, they turned to simulation software from Comsol, specifically COMSOL Multiphysics®.

Using Comsol Multiphysics®, the team developed a novel 3D reactive-transport model to simulate dissolution reactions at the sediment-water interface. This solution allowed them to virtually study the micrometer-scale interactions between aragonite shells and calcite grains under deep-sea conditions. The results demonstrated how dissolving shells create a protective zone of saturated seawater that inhibits calcite dissolution, validating the theory that aragonite plays a crucial galvanizing role. The open-access model provides a new tool for the scientific community to better understand and predict the ocean's response to acidification.

Utrecht University