Workshop on the disruption of the biogeochemical cycles beyond C, N and P (11 - 13 February 2026)

Elemental disruption workshop: investigating the systematic disruptions in Earth’s elemental cycles

Last month we participated in a workshop to work on a review paper about the disruption of global biogeochemical cycles, with a focus on elements other than C, N and P. The workshop took place at the facilities of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Bellaterra), on the 11th, 12th and 13th of February 2026. Due to severe weather during the 12th of February, we had to modify the programme and move the field trip to the desalination plant from Thursday the 12th to Friday the 13th. The working session that should have taken place on the 13th was thus moved to the 12th and held online, due to the closure of the University.

After a brief presentation of all participants in the workshop, we divided ourselves into five groups in order to review the literature and summarise our findings. The groups cosisted consisted of the paleo team, focused on establishing baseline elemental cycles in different Earth compartments, the atmosphere, freshwater, ocean and terrestrial teams, focused on synthesising all changes in elemental cycling due to anthropogenic disturbances. The result of all that work is now being harmonised, and we expect the final version of the manuscript to be ready by autumn 2026.

During the field trip to visit the desalination plant in Blanes, we enjoyed an extensive explanation of the functioning of the plant by the head of operations.

The workshop was organised by Prof. Estela Romero and Dr. Marcos Fernández-Martínez and was funded by CREAF’s Severo Ochoa Synthesis Actions.

Elemental disruption workshop

Want to know more? Contact us!