Researchers at Oregon State University found that chemicals emitted by plant roots break bonds between carbon and minerals in the soil, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. This process could accelerate climate warming by up to 1% per year, as current models may be underestimating carbon loss from soil.
Researchers found that root secretions can promote soil carbon loss by freeing organic compounds from protective associations with minerals. This mechanism is known as 'priming' and challenges the assumption that mineral-associated carbon is protected from microbial cycling over millennial timescales.
A team of researchers found that the success of marine diatoms over the last 40 million years is linked to increased continental erosion. Diatoms consume massive amounts of carbon from oceans daily, producing organic matter that helps reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
New computer simulations suggest that thawing permafrost will release more carbon into the atmosphere than plants can absorb, leading to potential acceleration of climate change. The models also indicate a large range of uncertainty in the outcomes, highlighting the need for further research.
A study published in Nature shows that a release of carbon dioxide from the deep Southern Ocean helped bring an end to the last Ice Age. The finding provides insight into how oceanic carbon storage affects climate change.
Researchers found that a massive release of carbon dioxide from the ocean during the last ice age warmed the planet and ended the glacial period. The study, published in Nature, suggests that natural variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide are linked to carbon stored in oceans.
A new UC Berkeley study shows that combining biomass electricity production with carbon capture and sequestration can store more carbon than emitted, making the western US a critical contributor to an overall zero-carbon future. The technology could reduce emissions by up to 80% by 2050 and even become carbon-negative.
Researchers at MIT found that injected carbon dioxide only partially converts to rock, with the majority remaining in a gaseous form. This limitation poses challenges for long-term sequestration efforts.
Researchers estimate that 50% more organic carbon will be exported in glacier outflow over the next 35 years, equivalent to half of the Mississippi River's annual organic carbon influx. This increase has major implications for high-latitude marine ecosystems, particularly those surrounding ice sheets.
Researchers are studying peat fire emissions, which are a major contributor to carbon emissions and climate change. The study aims to understand the impact of peatfire smoke on human health and the climate.
Rice University researchers have developed a new carbon capture material that can hold 114% of its weight in carbon dioxide, capturing more than current methods. The material is made from inexpensive asphalt and can be reused multiple times without degrading.
Researchers at Princeton University found that increased CO2 and plant growth could destabilize soil's carbon stores. The team developed a computer model to show the complex interaction between carbon, plants, and microorganisms in soil.
Researchers at Cornell University have invented carbon-trapping sponges that outperform industry benchmarks, reducing toxicity and increasing efficiency. The innovative technology uses a silica scaffold with nanoscale pores to capture carbon dioxide in the presence of moisture.
Recent results from the Deep Carbon Observatory researchers are filling in the global carbon puzzle with findings that extend our understanding of the origins and limits of life on Earth. The report will reveal new information on diffuse degassing, including how emissions seeping out of soils vary daily and seasonally.
The Carnegie Institution has published a new report on the mysterious 90% of Earth's carbon, exploring its quantities, movements, forms, and origins. The Deep Carbon Observatory, led by Robert Hazen and Russell Hemley, aims to answer remaining questions about this essential element.
Researchers at Rice University have created an environmentally friendly compound that effectively captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial flue gases and natural gas wells. The new material, combined with buckminsterfullerene molecules, achieves high selectivity and efficiency in capturing carbon dioxide while rejecting methane.
A 12-year University of Illinois study shows that cover crops increase soil organic carbon stock without improving crop yields. The practice is found to sequester the most soil organic carbon in no-till systems with hairy vetch and cereal rye cover crops.
A new theoretical equation demonstrates that every million-million tonnes of carbon emitted will generate one degree Celsius of global warming. The research also shows that surface warming is related to total carbon emissions, with little change over time as ocean carbon and heat uptake cancel each other out.
A new model developed by University of Maryland researchers links intensive agriculture to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, revealing a strong correlation between the Green Revolution and Earth's metabolism. The study found that crop production tripled while land planted with major crops grew by 20 percent, leading to incre...
A new model suggests that intensive agriculture is the primary reason for increased seasonal oscillations in carbon dioxide, with average annual increase of 0.3 percent. The 'Green Revolution' farming practices are boosting atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, leading to a stronger seasonal cycle.
A new ultra-high-resolution NASA computer model provides a stunning visual portrait of how carbon dioxide travels around the globe. The simulation, called GEOS-5, illustrates regional variations in carbon dioxide levels and differences between northern and southern hemispheres.
A new study reveals that iron fertilization in the Southern Ocean may reduce the biological carbon pump's ability to transport carbon dioxide into the deep ocean. This process, which draws carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the sea, is crucial for mitigating climate change.
A new high-resolution mapping strategy has identified opportunities to preserve tropical carbon stocks in the fight against climate change. The approach prioritizes carbon conservation efforts throughout tropical countries and provides detailed information on landscape characteristics.
Phytoplankton, tiny photosynthetic organisms, play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's carbon content. A new study reveals that viruses can rapidly wipe out blooms, fixing large amounts of organic carbon in the process.
Scientists at the University of Miami re-evaluate the global carbon cycle by analyzing marine sediment cores, suggesting that post-depositional changes can mimic ancient trends. This new perspective highlights the importance of understanding geological context in interpreting carbon isotope records.
Researchers develop a novel catalyst to cleave aromatic carbon-carbon bonds in benzene at relatively mild temperatures, offering unprecedented mechanistic details on hydrocracking. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and selective production of valuable materials from natural resources.
A new study finds that sunlight, not bacteria, is the key to converting carbon stored in Arctic permafrost into carbon dioxide. As climate change alters the timing and pace of thawing, this process could significantly impact global CO2 levels.
Scientists found that sunlight, not bacteria, dominates the production of carbon dioxide in Arctic inland waters. Photochemical processing accounts for up to 95% of carbon conversion.
Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Carnegie Mellon University uncover key attributes of brown carbon, a toxic airborne particle that warms the atmosphere. The study reveals that brown carbon shares a common production mechanism with black carbon, leading to significant underestimation of warming effects in climate models.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that long-term warming has little effect on the storage of carbon in tropical forest soils. The research suggests that warmer temperatures stimulate an increase in leaf litter and underground sources of carbon, offsetting any potential losses in soil carbon.
Researchers at Clemson University discovered that kudzu invasion releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. In contrast, Japanese knotweed's impact is less pronounced due to its litter chemistry regulating soil biological activity.
Researchers at Rice University have created a porous material that can capture and polymerize carbon dioxide from natural gas at ambient temperature. The material shows promise to replace more costly and energy-intensive processes, enabling the economic production of gas resources with higher carbon dioxide content.
Deeply buried fossil soils in the Great Plains have been found to be rich in carbon, potentially grossly underestimating carbon storage capacity. The study's findings suggest that these ancient soils could contribute significantly to global climate change as they are disturbed.
Research found that elevated CO2 levels accelerate plant growth, leading to more CO2 absorption through photosynthesis. This new understanding suggests that natural processes may not slow global warming as previously thought.
A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study finds that Alteromonas bacteria can consume as much dissolved organic carbon as diverse communities of organisms. This discovery sheds light on the complex mechanisms of ocean carbon cycling and highlights the importance of individual species in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A new study reveals unprecedented detail of the Amazon Basin's trees, enabling researchers to accurately assess their carbon content. The findings will help administer carbon offsetting more effectively, improving our understanding of global forest carbon storage.
A team of researchers found that some studies have shown no-till systems without cover crops may not increase soil organic carbon stocks as claimed. The review suggests that different definitions and methods can lead to conflicting findings, and the accuracy of determining soil organic carbon sequestration depends on the method used.
A new study found that forests growing in fertile soils with ample nutrients can sequester up to 30% of the carbon they take up during photosynthesis. In contrast, nutrient-poor forests retain only 6% of that carbon, which is released back into the atmosphere as respiration.
A recent study by Rice University and colleagues analyzed the environmental fate of black carbon in deep ocean sediments. They found that more than half of black carbon never reaches the bottom, but instead stays dissolved in seawater or gets trapped in particles before sinking to the seafloor.
Carbon monoxide exposure cases rise after snowstorms and power loss, with generators and car exhaust as common sources; public health education crucial to prevent poisoning.
Researchers found that arid ecosystems, which cover nearly half the earth's land surface, can take up a significant amount of carbon as CO2 levels rise. The study suggests that these ecosystems could account for 15-28% of current carbon absorption, potentially offsetting 4-8% of current emissions by 2050.
A new study found that growing season gains from permafrost thaw are outweighed by increased winter respiration, leading to enhanced carbon losses. The research suggests that the Arctic's stored carbon could reach catastrophic levels within a century if permafrost continues to thaw.
Researchers at Umeå University have developed a method to engineer carbon nanotube networks into complex architectures, significantly improving charge transport and reducing material costs. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate the development of flexible carbon-based solar cells.
Research reveals tropical ecosystems releasing 2 billion extra tonnes of carbon into atmosphere per year with each 1 degree rise in tropical temperature. The study suggests increased vulnerability of tropical ecosystems to climate change, contradicting current land carbon cycle models.
Research by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute scientist Benjamin Turner and colleagues reveals that fungi are a key driver of soil carbon storage. Fungi can lead to 70% more carbon in the soil by accessing organic forms of nitrogen, limiting the activity of microorganisms that break down dead organic matter.
Symbiotic fungi in plant roots store and release carbon, with certain types leading to 70% more carbon storage. This discovery challenges current understanding of soil carbon pools and their impact on climate predictions.
Researchers at TUM discovered that carbon binds to small mineral particles with rough surfaces, leading to preferential spots for sequestration. The study used a mass spectrometer to visualize and compare soil structures, revealing areas with high carbon content.
A new study by Aarhus University reveals the optimal locations for carbon-stocking projects in Africa, prioritizing regions with high carbon potential, biodiversity conservation, and feasibility. The research identifies areas such as the Upper Guinean rainforests of West Africa and the Lower Guinean rainforests along the coast of Niger...
New research suggests that global warming of four degrees or more will lead to a saturation point for vegetation's ability to absorb CO2, resulting in a decrease in the 'carbon sink' effect. This shift in focus could change how scientists approach understanding and mitigating climate change.
Researchers at MIT found that the Arctic Ocean is becoming a more efficient carbon sink due to increased biological growth in summer months. However, some regions, such as the Barents Sea, become carbon sources, emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Researchers estimate that coastal areas absorb approximately 250 million metric tons of carbon each year, compared to a century ago when they released about 150 million metric tons. This shift suggests that coastal oceans play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and can help counteract climate change.
A new analysis published in Nature suggests that the coastal ocean now takes in more carbon dioxide than it releases, potentially impacting global predictions related to climate change. Researchers propose a mechanism for the shift, which could make the coastal ocean a more important carbon sink in the future.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a novel co-catalyst system that efficiently converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a useful starting material for synthesizing fuels. The system uses inexpensive and easy-to-fabricate carbon-based nanofiber materials, offering a promising solution for producing synth...
A Princeton University-led study found that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could continue to warm the planet for hundreds of years after a sudden halt in emissions. The researchers simulated an abrupt stop in carbon emissions and found that the planet warmed by 0.37 degrees Celsius over 400 years.
Global carbon emissions are set to reach a record 36 billion tonnes in 2013, with the US and EU also major contributors. The growth in coal is driving most of the increase, and cumulative CO2 emissions since 1870 are expected to exceed 200 trillion tonnes.
Research finds that animal populations can significantly influence carbon storage and exchange in regional ecosystems, often rivaling the impact of fossil fuel emissions. This underplayed role highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the indirect effects of animals on the carbon cycle.
A Princeton University study found that plants have prevented climate change by absorbing 186 billion to 192 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere since the mid-20th century. This 'carbon sink' has kept global temperatures cooler by one-third of a degree Celsius, preventing catastrophic climate change.
A University of Missouri researcher has found evidence suggesting the Late Cretaceous Period was ice-free, despite initial thoughts of a continental ice sheet. The study uses fossilized shells to analyze oxygen and carbon isotope ratios, providing insights into past temperatures and environmental conditions.
A study finds that seasonal carbon dioxide variations have substantially changed during the last 50 years, with a 50% increase in high latitude regions. This is due to increased carbon emissions from fossil fuels and land-based ecosystems taking deeper breaths.
A new study reveals that Australian soils are losing significant amounts of carbon to wind erosion, with an estimated 1.6 million tonnes lost annually. This loss affects not only agricultural productivity but also the country's carbon accounts and climate change projections.