A novel Eulerian model based on central moments to simulate age and reactivity continua interacting with mixing processes

Abstract

In geoscientific models, simulating the properties associated with particles in a continuum can serve many scientific purposes, and this has commonly been addressed using Lagrangian models. As an alternative approach, we present an Eulerian method here: diffusion–advection–reaction type partial differential equations are derived for centralized moments, which can describe the distribution of properties associated with chemicals in reaction–transport models. When the property is age, the equations for centralized moments (unlike non-central moments) do not require terms to account for aging, making this method suitable for modeling age tracers. The properties described by the distributions may also represent kinetic variables affecting reaction rates. In practical applications, continuous distributions of ages and reactivities are resolved to simulate organic matter mineralization in surficial sediments, where macrofaunal and physical mixing processes typically dominate transport. In test simulations, mixing emerged as the predominant factor shaping reactivity and age distributions. Furthermore, the applications showcase the method’s aptitude for modeling continua in mixed environments while also highlighting practical considerations and challenges.