ABSTRACT This paper provides an update on the fast‐evolving field of the induced polarization method applied to biogeophysics. It emphasizes recent advances in the understanding of the induced polarization signals stemming from biological materials and their activity, points out new developments and applications, and identifies existing knowledge gaps. The focus of this review is on the application of induced polarization to study living organisms: soil microorganisms and plants (both roots and stems). We first discuss observed links between the induced polarization signal and microbial cell structure, activity and biofilm formation. We provide an up‐to‐date conceptual model of the electrical behaviour of the microbial cells and biofilms under the influence of an external electrical field. We also review the latest biogeophysical studies, including work on hydrocarbon biodegradation, contaminant sequestration, soil strengthening and peatland characterization. We then elaborate on the induced polarization signature of the plant‐root zone, relying on a conceptual model for the generation of biogeophysical signals from a plant‐root cell. First laboratory experiments show that single roots and root system are highly polarizable. They also present encouraging results for imaging root systems embedded in a medium, and gaining information on the mass density distribution, the structure or the physiological characteristics of root systems. In addition, we highlight the application of induced polarization to characterize wood and tree structures through tomography of the stem. Finally, we discuss up‐ and down‐scaling between laboratory and field studies, as well as joint interpretation of induced polarization and other environmental data. We emphasize the need for intermediate‐scale studies and the benefits of using induced polarization as a time‐lapse monitoring method. We conclude with the promising integration of induced polarization in interdisciplinary mechanistic models to better understand and quantify subsurface biogeochemical processes.

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应用于生物地球物理学的诱导极化：最新进展和未来前景

摘要 本文提供了应用于生物地球物理学的激极化方法的快速发展领域的更新。它强调了对源自生物材料及其活动的诱导极化信号的理解的最新进展，指出了新的发展和应用，并确定了现有的知识差距。本综述的重点是应用激极化研究生物体：土壤微生物和植物（根和茎）。我们首先讨论诱导极化信号与微生物细胞结构、活性和生物膜形成之间观察到的联系。我们提供了微生物细胞和生物膜在外部电场影响下的电行为的最新概念模型。我们还回顾了最新的生物地球物理研究，包括碳氢化合物生物降解、污染物封存、土壤强化和泥炭地特征的工作。然后，我们详细阐述了植物根区的诱导极化特征，依赖于从植物根细胞产生生物地球物理信号的概念模型。第一次实验室实验表明，单根和根系是高度极化的。他们还为嵌入介质中的根系成像提供了令人鼓舞的结果，并获得了关于根系质量密度分布、结构或生理特征的信息。此外，我们强调了诱导极化的应用，通过茎的断层扫描来表征木材和树木结构。最后，我们讨论了实验室和现场研究之间的放大和缩小，以及对激发极化和其他环境数据的联合解释。我们强调了中等规模研究的必要性以及使用激发极化作为延时监测方法的好处。我们总结了诱导极化在跨学科机械模型中的有希望的整合，以更好地理解和量化地下生物地球化学过程。