EAR-Climate: An Open-Source Facility for Water-Organic-Rock-Microbe (WORM) Reaction Modeling

计算机模型被广泛用于揭示水成分变化的根本原因，土壤如何发展，有毒化合物如何在环境中传播，微生物如何获得能量供应和营养，以及主要地质过程如何导致矿藏、石油油藏、火山和自然灾害的形成。要获得这样的模型，往往需要高级培训、大量的时间投入和专有软件。水-有机-岩石-微生物(WORM)计算生态系统通过一个开源的在线平台提供对这些计算的访问，该平台具有内置的软件工具和交互式演示，任何人都可以通过互联网浏览器访问。自2020年初服务器上线以来，学生、教师、研究人员和普通公众一直在积极了解WORM门户并在其上进行地球化学计算。作为一项设施，WORM门户将扩大其各种应用程序和用户基础。该项目将创建新的计算模块，扩大整个地球科学界的参与，包括代表不足的团体和学生，并为交付WORM计算工具提供多种新格式。该项目将扩展蠕虫建模工具，以包括风化和蚀变过程中的质量转移，以及支持自然流体和实验介质中微生物的化学电源。此外，新的补充模块将加强现有的热力学数据回归和估计模块。将通过在线讲习班、从土著观点开发的教程、课堂学生项目以及入门和高级视频来扩大参与度。除了维护当前的WORM门户并建立基于云的对应关系外，通过可在互联网连接之外操作的便携式、集装箱版本的WORM，访问将变得多样化。该项目由地球信息学计划、仪器和设施计划、地球生物学和低温地球化学计划以及地球科学局和高级网络基础设施办公室合作资助，以支持地球科学领域的AI/ML和开放科学活动。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Computer models are widely used to reveal underlying reasons for why water compositions change, how soils develop, how toxic compounds spread through the environment, how microorganisms access energy supplies and nutrients, and how major geologic processes lead to the formation of ore deposits, petroleum reservoirs, volcanoes, and natural disasters. All too often access to such models requires advanced training, major commitments of time, and proprietary software. The Water-Organic-Rock-Microbe (WORM) computational ecosystem provides access to these calculations through an open-source, online platform with built-in software tools and interactive demonstrations accessible to anyone through an internet browser. Students, teachers, researchers, and members of the general public have been actively learning about and performing geochemical calculations on the WORM Portal since the server went live in early 2020. As a facility the WORM Portal will broaden its variety of applications and its user base.This project will create new computational modules, expand engagement throughout the Earth Science community including underrepresented groups and students, and provide multiple new formats for delivering WORM computational tools. This project will extend WORM modeling tools to include mass transfer during weathering and alteration, and chemical power supplies that support microbes in natural fluids and experimental media. In addition, new complementary modules will enhance existing thermodynamic data regression and estimation modules. Engagement will expand through online workshops, tutorials developed from Indigenous perspectives, and in-class student projects, as well as introductory and advanced videos. In addition to maintaining the current WORM Portal and establishing its cloud-based counterpart, access will be diversified though a portable, containerized version of WORM operable out of internet contact.This project is co-funded with contributions from the Geoinformatics Program, the Instrumentation & Facilities Program, and the Geobiology & Low-Temperature Geochemistry Program; and a collaboration between the Directorate for Geosciences and Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure to support AI/ML and open science activities in the geosciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.