A new study reveals that human activities are releasing carbon dioxide at a faster rate than ever, while natural carbon sinks are weakening. The global economy's carbon intensity has increased since 2000, posing a challenge in mitigating climate change.
A study at the University of York found that microbes in plant roots rapidly consume sugars and convert them into carbon dioxide, creating a shortcut in the carbon cycle. This process was demonstrated using C-13-labeled carbon dioxide, allowing researchers to identify the active microbes.
Researchers discovered a unique set of olfactory neurons in mice that are sensitive to carbon dioxide, allowing them to detect the gas. This finding may have significant implications for how animals adapt to increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.
A recent study suggests that northern forests absorb less carbon than previously thought, with intact tropical forests taking up a larger proportion of the atmosphere's carbon dioxide, partially offsetting industrial emissions and deforestation.
A new study suggests that human-caused nitrogen deposition is indirectly fertilizing forests, increasing their growth and sequestering major amounts of carbon. The findings reveal a more complex view of the carbon cycle in forests, heavily influenced by human activities.
Researchers at Stanford University are investigating carbon capture and storage as a solution to combat global warming. The technology can trap over 90% of an individual plant's carbon emissions, making heavy carbon spewers such as coal power plants relatively clean.
The partnership aims to standardize carbon credit trading in the US, utilizing Argonne's GREET model. This collaboration may lead to increased credibility and growth in the green-energy market.
The Southern Ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide has weakened substantially over the past 25 years, with a 15% decrease per decade since 1981. Human activities are the primary cause of this weakening, which will lead to higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the long-term.
Researchers found that a soil model can accurately estimate carbon levels in soil, enabling farmers to verify soil carbon change and sell carbon credits. The Century model's accuracy depends on accurate soil texture data, highlighting the need for benchmark monitoring sites.
New research by CSIRO Australia confirms deforestation is a critical climate change role, releasing 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon annually. Preserving tropical forests as carbon sinks can help stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.
A recent analysis reveals that inland water bodies are significant areas of terrestrial carbon transformation, deserving inclusion in global carbon cycle assessments. The findings show that rivers transport complex transformations of carbon, with half entering the atmosphere and 12% stored in sediments.
A new study reveals that elevated CO2 levels stimulate soils to release carbon dioxide, rather than store it. The research found that soil loss due to decomposition offsets gains in plant biomass, suggesting that soils may not be a reliable carbon sink under high CO2 conditions.
A Carnegie Mellon paper outlines incentives for controlling carbon emissions, warning of the consequences of delaying effective electric sector policy. Implementing an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide from power plants is likely to be cost-effective and reduce environmental impact.
A new study by Dr. Kevin Robert Gurney found that boreal North America removes carbon from the atmosphere during warm Spring years, while Boreal Asia emits more carbon with above normal Fall temperatures. These findings have implications for climate change projections and suggest a regional difference in how ecosystems respond to warming.
Scientists at the University of York are investigating the potential uses of carbon monoxide in treating disease, particularly high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. The three-year study aims to develop molecules that release carbon monoxide slowly and tuneably for bioapplications.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created new hybrid structures combining the strengths of carbon nanotubes and metal nanowires. This technique allows precise attachment of carbon nanotubes to individual metal pins, offering a practical solution for using carbon nanotubes in computer chips.
Research suggests that massive ancient carbon releases caused global warming 55 million years ago, with temperatures increasing by up to 9°F (5°C) in just 10,000 years. The findings imply high climate sensitivity to CO2 and contradict skepticism about the Earth's response to increased carbon dioxide emissions.
Scientists have created a reversible, non-destructive chilling method to study below-ground carbon allocation in trees. This technique temporarily interrupts carbon movement and leaves the tree alive, allowing for accurate measurement of carbon storage.
New research shows carbon dioxide emissions have accelerated by over 2.5% per year since the 2000s, despite global efforts to reduce emissions. The findings indicate that recent emission-reducing measures have had little impact on slowing down growth rates.
A type of carbon from plant waxy material has been accumulating in soils for 11,000 years, challenging current models of the Earth's carbon cycle. This resilient carbon pool is thought to be responsible for long-term carbon storage on land and may play a role in offsetting increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
A Florida Institute of Technology professor has earned a $177,000 grant over three years to investigate the historic carbon balance of Andean vegetation and soils. The researchers will use fossil pollen and charcoal evidence from lake sediments to reconstruct past changes in vegetation and determine fire.
Salps, small jellyfish-like creatures, transport massive amounts of carbon from surface to deep sea, potentially influencing global climate. Researchers estimate 4,000 tons of carbon are sunk daily through salp fecal pellets.
Scientists have discovered that thawed loess permafrost in Siberia and Alaska contains a large amount of carbon, with approximately 500 Gt of carbon stored. This finding is significant as it suggests that the thawing of this type of permafrost could release substantial amounts of carbon into the atmosphere over the next century.
A six-year study found that higher carbon dioxide levels and limited nitrogen in soils hinder plant growth, potentially leading to reduced ecosystem carbon storage. The research suggests that as atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, soils will struggle to support plant life, exacerbating the issue.
Research challenges previous assessments suggesting large increases in soil carbon with rising CO2 levels. Plants can pump nitrogen into soils, but this process cannot keep up with increasing CO2 unless essential nutrients are added as fertilizers.
A study by Dr. Davidson examines the factors influencing soil carbon decomposition, particularly in arctic and boreal regions, where warming can release massive amounts of stored carbon. The research aims to establish a common framework for understanding these processes and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
Mangroves are a significant source of dissolved organic carbon in the ocean, accounting for nearly triple the estimated amount previously thought to be released from smaller-scale estimates. The mangrove root system slows down the release of carbon-rich leaf litter into shallow sediment, where it is then leached into coastal waters.
Researchers from Livermore have determined the phase boundaries for carbon at pressures up to 20 million atmospheres and temperatures over 10,000 degrees Kelvin. The study provides results on the physical properties of carbon, essential for devising models of Neptune, Uranus, and white dwarf stars.
Researchers found that up to half of Amazon's oldest trees are over 300 years old, with some reaching 1,000 years. This challenges previous studies suggesting the Amazon can absorb more carbon dioxide than predicted.
A study found that poor forest management practices in the early 20th century have reduced the amount of carbon that modern forests can store by half. The researchers measured the carbon stored in several forested plots that were harvested and burned, finding that they stored only half as much carbon as adjacent control plots.
Researchers have underestimated the organic carbon stored in high Arctic soils, with new findings suggesting up to 8.7 billion metric tons of carbon in the polar semidesert. The study's results are significant as the Arctic warms and permafrost thaws, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.
Researchers found that no-till farming can store up to 868 million tons of carbon in soil, which could help meet the US's goal of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by one-fifth. Climate change affects soil carbon sequestration varying by region, with some areas experiencing increased storage and others reduced.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that climate change affects the oceans' ability to store carbon dioxide. The best location for injecting CO2 into the deep ocean changes with climate change, with the Atlantic Ocean proving more effective than other locations.
The Kentucky Geological Survey is involved in global climate change research, studying opportunities to sequester carbon in the Midwest and Southeast regions. The survey will continue to examine subsurface formations for carbon storage and investigate coal seams along the Virginia-Kentucky border.
Scientists have discovered a connection between ancient climate, carbon dioxide levels, and vegetation in deep sea algae. The study found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were up to five times greater than today during the Paleogene Period, leading to rapid global cooling and the origin of land plants sensitive to CO2.
Scientists uncover how multi-walled carbon nanotubes are formed inside glass-coated liquid carbon via the pure carbon arc method. The research team discovered that carbon crystals form inside drops of glassy liquid carbon, which cool at a faster rate than the surrounding nanotube, resulting in a glassy appearance.
Researchers at CERN and European universities have re-evaluated the primary reaction creating carbon in stars, modifying the rate of this process. The findings suggest that the amount of carbon produced in the first stars was twice as fast as previously thought, with implications for element production in supernovae.
A new study by Northeastern University researcher Kevin G. Harrison found that soil carbon levels increased by an average of 14% under elevated CO2 levels. This discovery has the potential to improve global warming forecast models, which have been hindered by slower-than-expected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Researchers suggest using geological carbon sinks to capture and store carbon dioxide from power plant emissions, providing an additional strategy to reduce greenhouse gases. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached an all-time high of 380 parts per million, a 36% increase since pre-industrial times.
Reductions in carbon dioxide and non-carbon dioxide trace gases can stabilize the climate with warming less than 1°C at 520 ppm CO2 levels. The Montreal Protocol is effective in reducing ozone-depleting gases, but needs extension to address other trace gases.
A recent study suggests that climate warming in the arctic tundra may cause the release of more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously expected. The research, led by Michelle Mack and Edward Schuur, found that increased nitrogen levels accelerated the breakdown of soil organic matter, leading to a net loss of carbon.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have successfully grown a single-wall carbon nanotube, reaching a world-record length. This breakthrough has the potential to enable new types of nanoscale electro-mechanical systems, including micro-electric motors and nanoconducting cables.
Restoring carbon in degraded agricultural soils can significantly improve crop yields and global food security, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, soil has a finite capacity for holding carbon, and widespread adoption of recommended management practices may reach its limits within 50 years.
A study published in Nature found that thick marine beds of siderite suggest early high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The research suggests that the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was more than 100 times greater than today, causing acidic ocean water and maintaining liquid oceans.
A recent study published in Ecology Letters found that increased atmospheric carbon dioxide can lead to a significant increase in algal productivity, with up to 40% to 50% more growth in nutrient-rich environments. This could result in more severe nuisance blooms, particularly in freshwater and saltwater systems.
Researchers develop new methods to assess carbon uptake in Western mountain forests, which are affected by drought. By combining airborne data with ground-based measurements, scientists can better understand natural processes involved in forest-air carbon exchange.
Researchers combine airborne data with ground-based measurements to better understand carbon exchanges in rolling hills and mountain ranges. The project aims to enhance carbon uptake and improve monitoring methods for high-emitting nations and industries.
A team of U.S. and German scientists used carbon-14 dating techniques to determine that most Arctic carbon is young and unlikely to affect the global climate balance. However, they warn that an Arctic warming trend could lead to the release of ancient carbon, enhancing the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming.
Chemists at PNNL have found that maintaining alkalinity and frequent wetting and drying cycles can increase soil's natural ability to soak up carbon dioxide. This approach could help slow global warming by utilizing the soil's potential reservoir of four times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Researchers found that ocean acidity influences early estimates of carbon dioxide and temperature link, correcting temperature curves to match glacial records. They applied correction factors for changes in acidity, calcium ions, and carbon dioxide saturation, accurately predicting two major glaciations.
Researchers studying Arctic rivers and ocean find most organic carbon is relatively young, but warming may release older, stored carbon into the atmosphere. This could lead to a positive feedback loop, enhancing greenhouse effects and accelerating global warming.
A study published in Ecology Letters reveals that aquatic ecosystems process carbon through the basal levels of their food chain significantly faster than terrestrial ecosystems. This means aquatic ecosystems are less capable of retaining carbon, especially under high CO2 conditions.
Researchers conclude that large pools of carbon on land may shrink in the coming century, affecting carbon removal. Planting trees remains an effective way to sequester carbon, but growth rates are unlikely to be supercharged.
Research by Richard Norby and colleagues at ORNL found that young trees and green plants respond favorably to elevated CO2 levels, with a 24% increase in net primary productivity. However, the long-term effect of carbon dioxide fertilization on mature trees and soil sequestration is still debated.
Research suggests that gas hydrates, formed in deep-sea sediments, contain massive amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. These hydrates can charge and discharge variable amounts of methane constantly, responding to factors not yet understood. This finding necessitates a revised view of the carbon cycle.
Researchers found that graphitic black carbon resists conversion to other forms, such as combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. This resistance affects carbon cycle calculations, leading to significant overestimates of burial of combustion-derived black carbon in marine sediments.
A new report finds that nitrogen availability is a critical factor in ecosystem carbon storage, with current limitations hindering the natural systems' ability to mitigate climate change. The study suggests that we need to incorporate these limits into our models and reduce our reliance on natural ecosystems to combat carbon emissions.
Researchers found that ozone reduces soil carbon formation, a key process for storing organic matter. The study suggests forests may be less effective at cleaning the air of excess carbon dioxide when ozone levels are high.
Researchers found that elevated ozone levels can reduce soil carbon formation, which is essential for forest health and climate regulation. The study's findings suggest that high ozone levels may hinder forests' ability to absorb excess carbon dioxide, threatening global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study reveals that elevated carbon dioxide levels can improve corn growth during drought periods, increasing photosynthesis by up to 41% in some cases. The findings suggest that C4 plants like corn may benefit from rising CO2 levels, but other factors such as ozone levels could still impact crop yields.