Ramon Aravena

• Isoptope techniques to trace groundwater contamination
• Agricultural and urban pollution of groundwater
• Degradation of nitrate and organic compounds in groundwater

Dr. Aravena is a research professor with 20 years experience in the application of isotope techniques in hydrology. He has been involved in numerous groundwater studies in Latin America, Canada and the U.S. related to evaluation of groundwater resources and groundwater protection.

His current research focus on groundwater contamination caused by agricultural and urban activities using environmental isotopes as tracers to provide information about sources and processes that affect nitrate and organic compounds in groundwater.

Professor Aravena has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Course offerings have included 

Recent publications include

• Marchesi, M., Thomson, N.R., Aravena, R., Otero, N., and Soler, A. 2013. Base-catalyzed persulfate oxidation of TCA and carbon isotope fractionation. Journal of Hazardous Materials 260: 61–66.
• Petitta, M., Pacioni, E., Sbarbati, C. Corvatta. G., Fanelli², M., and Aravena, R. 2013. Hydrodinamic and isotopic characterization of a site contaminated by chlorinated solvents: Chienti River Valley, Central Italy.  Applied Geochemistry, 32:164-174.
• Marchesi, M., Aravena, R., Sra, K.S., Thomson, N.R., Otero, N., Soler, A., and Mancini, S. 2012. Carbon isotope fractionation of chlorinated ethenes during oxidation by Fe²⁺ activated persulfate. Science of the Total Environment, 433: 318-322.
• Lojkasek-Lima, P., Aravena, R., Shouakar-Stash, O., Frape, S.K., Marchesi, M., Fiorenza, S., and Vogan, J. 2012. Evaluating TCE abiotic and biotic degradation pathways in a permeable reactive barrier using compound specific isotope analysis. Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation, 32: 53-62.
• Carucci, V., Pettita, M., and Aravena, R. 2012. Interaction between shallow and deep aquifers in the Tivoly plain (Central Italy) enchanced by groundwater extraction: A multi-isotope approach and geochemical modeling. Applied Geochemistry, 27: 266–280.

• Member, The Water Institute

• Reviewer Water Resources Research, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Journal of Hydrology, Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, Organic Geochemistry, Environmental Science & Technology, Radiocarbon, Soil Science, Biodegradation, Applied Geochemistry, Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Canadian Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. NSERC, NSF (USA) and NERC (UK)
• Editorial Board member of Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
• Member of Association of International Hydrogeologists
• Member of National Groundwater Association
• Member of the University Consortium for Field-Focused Groundwater Contamination Research based at the U. Guelph
• Member of the experts group of the International Atomic Energy Agency in the field of Isotope Hydrology

• 1993 PhD Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

• 1982 MSc Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

• 1975 Licentiate Chemistry, Catholic University, Santiago, Chile