Polar scientists call for better science and policy to recognize the potential of polar blue carbon, a crucial component of the global carbon cycle. The study identifies key habitats and pathways with potential for carbon storage, but highlights major uncertainties and the need for precautionary protection of vulnerable ecosystems.
A new study reveals that grazing abandonment leads to lower soil carbon, while continued grazing consistently results in higher soil carbon. Grazing is found to be crucial for sustaining grasslands and enhancing soil carbon storage.
Extreme weather events like drought, flooding, and wildfires alter soil carbon inputs, microbial processes, and sequestration, with repeated drought leading to declining soil organic carbon. The review highlights the importance of protecting soil carbon for climate mitigation and sustainable agricultural productivity.
A 10-year experiment in northeastern China compared biochar and maize stover applications, finding stover increased subsurface and deep-soil carbon, while biochar built topsoil carbon. The amendments altered dissolved organic carbon properties differently, with stover-derived DOC showing stronger vertical movement.
Researchers developed a physics-based AI approach to predict global-scale carbon cycling in ocean sediments, resolving a long-standing challenge in climate science. The study reveals key findings on dissolved organic carbon behavior, including 11% of particulate organic carbon returning to seawater.
Researchers developed a palladium-engineered nickel phosphide catalyst that achieved near-complete conversion and 97.28% selectivity to cyclohexane from bio-oil compounds. The catalyst's unique structure and lattice strain favored activation of carbon-oxygen bonds while limiting carbon-carbon bond scission.
A new study demonstrates TanSat-2's ability to distinguish between human carbon emissions and ecosystem carbon sinks. The satellite's observations of CO2 and chlorophyll fluorescence can simultaneously constrain net primary productivity and fossil fuel combustion emissions, leading to significant error reductions.
Long-term straw incorporation improves soil organic carbon by activating two mechanisms: physical protection in stable aggregates and chemical stabilization via iron-organic carbon associations. Straw return strengthens soil structure, promoting longer-term carbon storage.
The co-occurrence of biochar and microplastics in agricultural soils can alter soil carbon storage and inflate estimates of carbon sequestration. The review proposes an evidence-tiered measurement framework to accurately evaluate soil carbon storage.
Biochar's ability to retain carbon in soil is strengthened by cadmium contamination, with mechanisms including cation bridging and microbial inhibition. This unexpected interaction has implications for using biochar in contaminated agricultural soils.
A field study in northeastern China shows that combining no-tillage management with microbial organic fertilizer can significantly increase soil organic carbon across both surface and deeper soil layers. The treatment increased soil organic carbon by up to 93.2% and maintained larger macroaggregates, which can physically enclose organi...
Researchers found that microbial carbon fixation persists beneath the ice of Qinghai Lake, the largest saline lake in China, despite low temperatures and limited light. Dark-dependent carbon fixation was significantly greater than light-dependent fixation, suggesting a major winter carbon assimilation pathway in this saline lake.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a technology converting CO2 dissolved in seawater into calcium carbonate, enabling permanent storage and helping the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide. The system reduced electricity consumption by up to 54% and produced high-purity hydrogen and magnesium hydroxide.
Researchers found that water erosion increases microbial conversion of soil carbon to CO2, favoring decomposition of recalcitrant substrates. In contrast, deeper SOC remains more effectively protected within mineral-organic complexes and aggregates.
A new study reveals that forest structure, tree species evenness, and terrain slope jointly influence how carbon is divided among living vegetation, forest litter, and soil. The research found that soil contained the largest share of total carbon in most locations, while vegetation stored more carbon than soil in several plots.
Most of the carbon released during Canada’s record 2023 wildfire season came from burning soil and peat. Underground carbon stores accounted for 76 per cent of wildfire emissions. The findings highlight the vulnerability of Canada’s soil carbon stores to intensifying wildfires.
A new study reveals that Northern Eurasia's carbon sink is driven by climate change, with stronger sinks in western and southern regions. Forest productivity is a key determinant of the regional carbon sink, not just warming alone.
Research by CSU scientists found that soil organic carbon benefits crops the most during moderate water supply conditions, not extreme drought. Increasing soil organic carbon makes crops more stable and resilient from year to year.
Economists suggest that combining food labelling with higher prices for carbon-intensive items can reduce UK greenhouse gases by 5%, while generating net social benefits. The study found that labelling led to a 5.6% decrease in the carbon content of the average food basket, while a tax on the most carbon-intensive products yielded a 10...
A new study uses a thermal analysis technique to distinguish between different sources of organic carbon transported by rivers after extreme events, such as earthquakes and storms. The findings show that these events can continue to influence carbon transport in river systems for over a decade.
The rapid drying of the Aral Sea has released over 200 teragrams of carbon into the atmosphere, shifting the region's land-use carbon balance from a net sink to a significant source. Restoration efforts could help halt continued carbon loss and generate financial incentives for reflooding the lake.
New research reveals altitude-dependent carbon storage mechanisms in diverse forest ecosystems. High-altitude conifer forests excel at storing carbon in biomass, while lower-elevation mixed broadleaf forests stabilize soil carbon. Effective forest management requires altitude-specific approaches to conserve biomass and enhance soil org...
New research reveals biochar's reactive chemistry can slow soil organic carbon decomposition by suppressing enzymes, particularly in acidic soils. The protective effect varies among different soils, with some biochars increasing carbon dioxide emissions.
A global analysis of 932 observations shows that biochar delivers stronger carbon gains in nitrogen-poor soils and follows different carbon storage pathways depending on soil fertility. Biochar effectiveness varies greatly from one field to another, with the amount of nitrogen already present in soil controlling how much carbon it stores.
A study by Chiba University researchers confirms Gentiana squarrosa obtains carbon through both photosynthesis and fungal symbiosis. The U-shaped pot cultivation system developed for this study enables the verification of carbon transfer between plants via AM fungi in various plant species.
A new pantropical carbon database synthesizes data from 146 studies to better understand the impact of forest degradation and regeneration on the global carbon cycle. The study reveals that degraded forests recover faster than fully cleared land, while preserving forest structure enhances carbon recovery.
A new pantropical carbon database synthesizes data from 146 studies to better understand the effects of forest degradation and regeneration on the global carbon cycle. The study reveals that degraded forests recover faster than fully cleared land, accumulating more above-ground carbon over time.
A new study reveals that biochar increases soil organic carbon more efficiently than straw by guiding microbes towards stable carbon formation. Biochar promotes a slower but more stable carbon pathway, reducing native soil carbon mineralization.
A new study based on global airborne surveys found that forests in the tropics take up less carbon than predicted, and models struggle to simulate carbon dioxide uptake in forests north and south of the tropics. Regular airborne missions could narrow uncertainty further.
A two-year study found that pairing moderate drainage with biochar may reduce methane and carbon dioxide losses from agricultural peat soils. Biochar treatment reduced cumulative carbon dioxide emissions by up to 52%, while maintaining soil carbon stores.
A new study reveals that thawing permafrost can intensify rock weathering, consuming CO₂ and offsetting river CO₂ emissions. In some regions, this geological carbon uptake partially or fully offsets emissions, with estimated offsets ranging from 35% to over 100%.
A new study reveals how iron minerals trigger the release of potent greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide from paddy soils during flooding. Microbial communities then drive further decomposition, leading to a net decrease in overall carbon stability.
A new study reveals that fungi in Arctic fjords assimilate dissolved organic matter efficiently, retaining more carbon as microbial biomass rather than remineralizing it to CO2. This finding suggests that fungal metabolism promotes carbon retention at the seafloor and may enhance long-term carbon sequestration.
Researchers found that nanozeolite-coupled biochar fertilizer reduced soil-derived carbon dioxide emissions by 11-18% compared to conventional phosphorus fertilizer. The biochar-based fertilizer also reduced the Q10 value, indicating a decrease in soil carbon decomposition under warming.
Dissolved black carbon's colloidal behavior can decide whether carbon and associated contaminants travel long distances or become trapped in sediments. Understanding this behavior is essential for predicting environmental risks and carbon cycling.
A new study found that even as oak trees continue to photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer. This decoupling between photosynthesis and growth suggests that increased carbon uptake may not translate to greater wood production, reducing long-term carbon storage in forests.
A new study reveals that mountainous landscapes can store significantly more carbon in the soil than previously believed. Researchers found that soils in landslides can be up to 5 meters deep and contain twice as much carbon as predicted by previous global models.
Carbon Research has achieved a new milestone with a 2025 CiteScore Tracker of 19.2, reflecting growing visibility and citation performance. The journal focuses on carbonaceous materials, renewable energy, and greenhouse gases, publishing high-quality research for climate change, sustainable energy, and environmental remediation.
New research suggests that mangrove forests may not store as much carbon as previously thought, but instead release it as sea levels rise. The study found that localized areas may experience increased carbon storage, but the entire forest's storage is likely to decline over the next 100 years.
Long-term biochar study reveals that topsoil benefits from biochar's effect on microbial necromass carbon, with significant increase in fungal necromass carbon. In contrast, subsoil shows reduced microbial necromass carbon due to lower nitrogen availability and increased microbial nutrient mining.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered a method to quantify CO2 absorbed by cementitious materials and its atmospheric contamination using carbon isotope measurements. This breakthrough aims to improve carbon accounting and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in concrete production.
A new international study challenges long-held beliefs about how ecosystems absorb carbon under global warming. Plants are using water more efficiently while developing larger canopies to absorb light and fix carbon, making this the dominant factor in determining carbon dioxide uptake.
Researchers argue that biochar's long-term carbon storage potential and its soil improvement benefits should not be conflated. The authors call for a 'designer biochar' approach, tailoring products to specific end uses rather than marketing them as universally beneficial.
Researchers found that hydrochar improves soil structure while increasing soil organic carbon, with different feedstocks showing varying benefits. The study suggests hydrochar could become a customizable amendment for climate-smart soil management.
A new study reveals that dark brown carbon from wildfires has a powerful warming effect on the global climate, potentially exceeding that of black carbon. The research found that this 'dark brown carbon' absorbs light well into the visible spectrum, amplifying regional and global warming.
Researchers have found that karst reservoirs are exceptionally effective at capturing and storing atmospheric carbon due to a unique combination of geology and biology. The study reveals that these ecosystems produce a large amount of organic carbon, which is then efficiently converted and locked away in a highly stable form.
A new study suggests that temporary carbon storage can play a significant role in climate mitigation, particularly in sectors with persistent methane emissions. The researchers found that neutralizing the climate impact of 1 kilogram of methane requires removing roughly 498 kilograms of CO₂ stored for 20 years.
Research reveals tropical cyclones contribute to ocean carbon outgassing but its role is decreasing due to global warming. If emissions remain high, they may reverse to enhancing ocean carbon uptake, accelerating ocean acidification.
The study reveals coral reefs' significant carbon sequestration potential and how reef-dwelling fish contribute to the carbon cycle. Reef sediments dominate carbon storage, with fish influencing sediment carbon reservoirs through bioerosion and respiration.
A comprehensive review reveals that deep soil contains a colossal amount of carbon, estimated at over 850 petagrams worldwide, and is significantly more stable than surface layers due to strong interaction with clay minerals. The review outlines several agricultural strategies to protect and enhance deep soil carbon stocks.
Research reveals US forests face significant risk of carbon loss due to wildfires, droughts, and insects. Current carbon-credit systems fail to account for these risks, but the study provides a solution by proposing larger buffer pools to mitigate losses.
A study assesses carbon unlocking levels in China's transportation infrastructure across 30 provinces. The results show a clear regional pattern, with eastern provinces leading and western provinces lagging behind. Key driving factors include green patents, R&D investment, and low-carbon regulation.
A study finds that US forests are at risk of releasing stored carbon due to droughts, pests, and fires exacerbated by climate change. The researchers recommend increasing buffer pools in carbon-credit systems to account for these risks.
A comprehensive review reveals that deep soil layers store over 50-60% of the total carbon in top meter of soil. The subsoil environment is characterized by low oxygen and limited microbial activity, making it a stable target for long-term carbon removal strategies.
Researchers caution that weakening core safeguards in carbon markets risk worsening climate impacts and increasing net carbon emissions. Indigenous land stewardship is vital for maintaining intact ecosystems and vital carbon sinks, but alternative support mechanisms are needed to preserve the integrity of climate action.
Researchers highlight engineered biochar as a promising material for capturing carbon dioxide, overcoming limitations of raw biochar through rational engineering. Heteroatom doping improves interactions with CO2 molecules, increasing adsorption efficiency.
The 23rd Carbon Research International Forum highlights engineered biochar's potential in supporting carbon capture, resource recovery, and sustainable industrial development. Recent progress in converting agricultural and industrial residues into high-performance carbon materials was discussed.
A new study reveals that soil carbon residence time governs riverine dissolved organic matter's age, with climate, hydrology, and soil processes controlling carbon cycling in rivers. The research provides a high-resolution global atlas of riverine DOC, showing that ancient carbon sources are locally important but modern terrestrial org...
A new study by the University of Helsinki finds that the carbon footprint of milk production is 41% higher when soil carbon changes are included. Soil organic matter can either sequester or release carbon, and its impact on climate change should not be ignored.
The session discussed the complex relationship between organic carbon inputs and long-term carbon storage in soils. Emerging strategies were presented to optimize organic amendments and enhance both soil function and carbon retention.