Episode 038 – Microbes in Cold Weather

This week, I’ll be continuing the conversation about microbial myths that are common in the fuel industry—and that can cause expensive mistakes. In this episode, you will hear about how microbes work in cold weather. Microbial growth does tend to happen more in the warmer months, so it is often thought that microbes can’t grow in cold weather, but that isn’t true. There are about 1 trillion microbial species on Earth, and we’ve only cataloged about 10 million of them.

There are so many that will grow anywhere and everywhere that we haven’t even fully understood yet, so today I’ll shed light on the different environments that microbes grow in and how to avoid or combat them in colder conditions. Listen in to hear about how adaptable microbes are, where the microbes tend to be found in cold weather, the role of water and condensation in cold temperatures, and more.

Listen to the Full Episode:

What You'll Learn: 

• The myth about microbes not growing in cold weather.
• The reality of the wide variety of microbial species.
• What types of microbes thrive in cold environments.
• Understanding the adaptability of microbes.
• What sulfate-reducing bacteria is and the conditions it thrives in.
• The role of condensation and its relationship with temperature and microbes. 
• My recommendation for fuel monitoring in the winter.
• Tests you can try and what you’re looking for when it comes to winter microbial issues.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “Cold temperatures enhance the condensation phenomenon in fuel systems and, because that’s true, that means that there’s often more water present for microbes to use than you’d think.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “When we say that microbial growth slows down in the cold, what we really mean is that the activity slows down in the cold. That’s not the same as saying the cold killed them—they’re still active in their environment.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “There are many types of microbes that not only survive but THRIVE in the cold.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “One of the advantages that microbes have is that they tend to adapt easily.” - Erik Bjornstad
• "Microbial corrosion can be a significant factor in corrosion in cold environments." - Erik Bjornstad

Resources:

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn