Christopher Amrhein
Christopher Amrhein
Department Vice Chair
Professor of Soil Chemistry
Academic Degrees:
- Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry, 1984, Utah State University
- M.S. in Water Science, 1980, University of California, Davis
- B.S. with High Honors in Soil and Water Science, 1977, University of California, Davis
Specialization:
- Management, treatment, and reuse of agricultural wastewater.
- Trace element chemistry in soils, sediments, water, and brines.
- Oxidation/reduction chemistry in wetlands and metal surfaces.
- Dissolution and precipitation kinetics of carbonate and silicate minerals.
- Cation and anion adsorption reactions on phyllosilicate clays, metal oxides, and soils.
- Reclamation of salt-affected soils and the maintenance of soil structure.
Research Group:
Representative Publications:
- de Koff, J.P., M.A. Anderson, C. Amrhein. 2008. Geochemistry of iron in the Salton Sea, California. Hydrobiologia 604:37-44.
- Geraci, J.B., C. Amrhein, and C.C. Goodson. 2008. Barnacle growth rate on artificial substrate in the Salton Sea, California. Hydrobiologia 604:77-84.
- Rodriguez, I.R., C. Amrhein, and M.A. Anderson. 2008. Laboratory studies on the coprecipitation of phosphate with calcium carbonate in the Salton Sea, California. Hydrobiologia 604:45-55.
- Rodriguez, I.R., C. Amrhein, M.A. Anderson. 2008. Reducing dissolved phosphorus loading to the Salton Sea with aluminum sulfate. Hydrobiologia 604:37-44.
- Anderson, M.A., L. Whiteaker, E. Wakefield and C. Amrhein. 2008. Properties and distribution of sediment in the Salton Sea, California: An assessment of predictive models. Hydrobiologia 604:97-110.
- Graham, R.C., D.R. Hirmas, Y.A. Wood, and C. Amrhein. 2008. Large near-surface nitrate pools in soils capped by desert pavement in the Mojave Desert, California. Geology 36:259-262.
- Reese, B.K., M.A. Anderson, C. Amrhein. 2008. Hydrogen sulfide production and volatilization in a polymictic eutrophic saline lake, Salton Sea, California. Sci. Tot. Envir. 406:205-218.
- Zhang, Y., C. Amrhein, A. Chang, W.T. Frankenberger, Jr. 2008. Effect of zero-valent iron and a redox mediator on removal of selenium in agricultural drainage water. Sci. Tot. Envir. 407:89-96.
Courses Taught:
- ENSC 100: Introduction to Soil Science (undergraduate class with 4 laboratory periods and 1 ‘Honors’ lab)
- ENSC 2: Introduction to Environmental Sciences: Environmental Quality (undergraduate class, 4 units)
- SWSC 206: Arid Zone Soils (4 graduate units); alternate years; to be restructured as "Hypersaline Ecosystems"
- NASC 92: Freshman Advising Seminar in Environmental Sciences (1 unit)
Graduate Program Affiliations and Research Focus Areas:
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Research Focus Areas
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Program
Honors and Awards
- U.C. Distinguish Teaching Award, 2006-2007
