A recent study reveals that Australia's forests have declined significantly over the past 30 years, contributing to a troubling trend of deforestation and forest degradation. The country's extensive deforestation for agriculture has been a major driver of carbon emissions.
Diatoms, single-celled plankton, build biomass by feeding on organic carbon, challenging the assumption that photosynthesis is their only strategy. The discovery has major implications for understanding the global carbon cycle and could alter estimates of carbon dioxide diatoms pull out of the air.
The paper reviews existing assessment tools for digitalized low-carbon urban planning and design, highlighting their limitations and application shortcomings. The study categorizes and compares 19 assessment tools, focusing on city-scale and district/neighborhood-scale carbon assessment tools.
A new study reveals widespread decline in Western US forest carbon storage, likely caused by drought and fire. The research provides a framework for evaluating future changes and informing management strategies to mitigate carbon loss, highlighting the need for proactive forest management practices.
A study reveals that porewater-derived carbon outwelling plays a significant role in driving dynamic changes of carbon and greenhouse gases in saltmarsh ecosystems. Porewater exchange acts as a long-term and significant carbon sink, comparable to soil carbon burial.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a technique for ultrafast formation of carbon dioxide hydrates, which can store carbon in the ocean and prevent it from being released into the atmosphere. This breakthrough could make carbon storage more accessible and feasible on a global scale.
Weaker ocean circulation may lead to increased carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere due to a previously uncharacterized feedback loop involving iron, upwelling nutrients, and ligands. The study challenges current thinking on the ocean's role in storing carbon.
A new study reveals that climate models overestimate the storage time of carbon in plants, meaning it is released back into the atmosphere sooner than predicted. This has implications for nature-based carbon removal projects and our understanding of the role of nature in mitigating climate change.
A new study reveals that the shape and depth of ocean floors significantly influence carbon sequestration, with bathymetry accounting for up to 50% of changes over 80 million years. This understanding can inform marine-based carbon dioxide removal technologies and aid in searching for habitable planets.
Research in three Swedish fjords shows that organic carbon is effectively trapped, regardless of oxygen levels. The study highlights the importance of sediments in storing carbon, with up to 18 megatonnes buried annually, representing 11% of global ocean carbon capture.
A research team led by UCF's Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso discovered carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on 59 trans-Neptunian objects using the James Webb Space Telescope. The findings suggest that carbon dioxide was abundant in the protoplanetary disk, while the origin of carbon monoxide remains uncertain.
Researchers find that carbon deposition on copper electrodes hinders CO2 reduction, leading to catalyst deactivation. The team elucidated the mechanism of carbon formation through controlled experiments.
A new roadmap proposes a holistic approach to reducing net-zero carbon emissions by converting various parts of the economy to run on renewable electricity. The approach includes developing non-carbon fuels, finding non-fossil sources of carbon, and keeping carbon in play through circular economies.
The US-based roadmap aims to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and industrial sectors by reusing existing carbon, not just capturing or sequestering it. Researchers from national laboratories are working to accelerate discovery of transformative technologies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Researchers found that water erosion acts as a net sink of atmospheric CO2, offsetting horizontal soil organic carbon removal. The study suggests that ecological restoration projects and tillage practices can improve the capacity of the carbon sink for recovery beyond the rate of horizontal carbon removal.
A new study reveals that a single hurricane can wipe out 5-10% of New England's total aboveground forest carbon through tree damage. The research team analyzed the impact of 10 powerful hurricanes on the region's forests and found that future storms could pose a significant risk to carbon offset programs.
Research published in Global Change Biology indicates that a single hurricane can down 4.6–9.4% of New England's aboveground forest carbon. The study also shows that current carbon market policies are insufficiently buffered against the risks posed by hurricanes, which could lead to catastrophic emissions
New research finds massive carbon inputs from volcanism and seafloor spreading impacted climate change, with tropical climate processes regulating the marine carbon cycle. The study reveals a significant reversal of orbital phase relationships between the carbon cycle and climate change during the Miocene Climate Optimum.
Researchers identify a degradation process that accelerates refractory pyrogenic carbon in coastal sediments. Seawater microdroplets facilitate this electrochemical degradation through interfacial electron transfer pathways, contributing to the ocean's carbon cycle.
A recent study published in Science reveals a vast store of global soil inorganic carbon (SIC) amounting to 2,305 billion tons, surpassing vegetation's combined carbon content. This 'hidden pool' is vulnerable to environmental changes, posing significant risks to ecosystem functions and climate change mitigation strategies.
Researchers successfully synthesized a one-dimensional carbon chain on the Au(111) surface, characterized by bond-resolved atomic force microscopy. The polyynic nature of the carbon chain was unambiguously revealed, and its electronic properties were studied using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, exhibiting a band gap of 5.8 eV.
Scientists have developed a new method to estimate soil organic carbon in the US, providing a more accurate benchmark for policymakers. The study reveals how environmental variables affect soil organic carbon and offers insights into mitigating climate change through sustainable land management practices.
A study by Duke University researchers found that manganese stimulates decomposition of soil organic matter and releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Scientists highlight tidal wetlands beyond mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass as Blue Carbon ecosystems, offering biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration benefits.
A new study finds a significant increase in aboveground carbon in Southwest China from 2013 to 2021, contrary to expected effects of extreme droughts. This suggests the region's role as a substantial carbon sink, thanks to ecological projects and remote sensing techniques.
International research led by CSU suggests studying root function in tropical forests can improve climate change predictions. Tropical forests contain 30% of global soil carbon, with roots acting as 'carbon banks' that can help mitigate climate change.
A new study finds that mountains can switch from being a sink of carbon dioxide to a source as their erosion rate increases. The optimal erosion rate for maximizing carbon dioxide removal through mineral weathering is approximately 0.1 millimeter per year.
Mangrove forests in regions like southern India and eastern Australia are affected by human development, leading to a decline in global mangrove carbon stocks. The study predicts an annual rate of carbon emissions from mangrove loss will rise to 3,392 Teragrams by the end of the century.
Scientists at Oregon State University have made a significant advance in capturing carbon dioxide from the air using vanadium peroxide molecules. The technology has been shown to react with and bind carbon dioxide effectively, making it a promising candidate for improving direct air capture methods.
Researchers found that electrostatic charges, structural features of carbon molecules, and surrounding metal nutrients play major roles in soil's ability to trap carbon. The study aims to help predict which soil chemistries are most favorable for trapping carbon.
Tidal landscapes like mangroves and salt marshes are a greater carbon sink than previously thought, with stored carbon in biomass and muddy soils contributing to climate change mitigation. The new findings also show that bicarbonate exports from these ecosystems double the size of the carbon trap, making them even more effective.
A landmark study by National Geographic Pristine Seas finds that bottom trawling releases up to 370 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. The research also reveals high carbon emissions in areas such as East China Sea, Baltic, and North Seas.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University developed a tandem electrocatalytic-thermocatalytic conversion method to convert CO2 into carbon nanofibers. This approach can occur at relatively low temperatures, around 400°C, making it a more practical and industrially achievable process.
A recent study found that beef operations with lifelong grass-based diets may produce a 42% higher carbon footprint when considering soil carbon sequestration and carbon opportunity costs. This is in contrast to grain-finished operations, which have been previously shown to have a lower environmental impact. The study's findings emphas...
Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use reached a record high of 36.8 billion metric tons in 2023, surpassing the previous year's level by 1.1%. The remaining carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5°C could be used up in seven years if current levels of emissions continue.
Researchers develop a method to verify whether carbon in concrete comes from air or raw materials. By analyzing carbon isotopes, they can confirm direct air capture and certify offsetting CO2 emissions. This technology is crucial for the construction industry and supports a circular economy.
Recent US legislation aims to increase fire management and tree planting to reduce large destructive fires and promote carbon sequestration. Fuel reduction activities are projected to remove 194-288 million metric tons of carbon from western forests over the next decade.
Researchers use rhenium as a proxy for carbon to quantify the rate of fossil carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere. The study found that high rates of carbon breakdown persist from mountaintop to floodplain, offering valuable insights into the planet's history and response to climate challenges.
A new study found that mixed forests with four species have the highest carbon stocks relative to monocultures, increasing above ground carbon stocks by at least 70%. The results demonstrate the potential of diversification in planted forests to enhance carbon storage and support biodiversity.
A new RMIT study reveals that feral horses can release significant amounts of carbon dioxide from Australian alpine peatlands, compromising their ability to capture and store carbon. The research found that degraded peatlands, caused by horse trampling and grazing, emit more carbon than intact sites.
A new study finds that the global carbon budget for keeping warming below 1.5°C will be exhausted by 2029 if current emissions continue, committing the world to this level of warming. The remaining budget has approximately halved since 2020 due to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A new method estimates the benefit of carbon stored because of forest conservation, enabling direct comparison of projects. The technique generates incentives for safeguarding forests long after credits have been issued.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel approach to capture carbon from ambient environmental conditions, using innovative kinetic methodologies and a diversity of ions. The 'moisture-swing' technique captures CO2 at low humidities and releases it at high humidities, enabling carbon removal from virtually anywhere.
Researchers suggest transforming arid ecosystems into efficient carbon-capture systems by engineering ideal combinations of plants, soil microbes, and soil type. This approach could result in significant increases in plant and soil carbon sequestration within less than ten years.
A new study sheds light on US forest carbon offset projects, revealing that most credits are issued for improved forest management practices rather than planting trees or protecting forests. Researchers also found that 26% of projects are in areas of moderate wildfire hazard, posing a risk to the stored carbon.
A recent study found that grasses account for over half of the soil carbon content across tropical savannas, including soils directly beneath trees. The researchers' findings suggest that increasing tree cover in these ecosystems has a negligible impact on soil carbon storage.
A study published in Science found that overestimations of forest preservation in voluntary REDD+ projects result in the generation of millions of worthless carbon credits. The research team calculated that only 6% of these credits are linked to actual reductions in carbon emissions.
Researchers in East Europe have recalculated the carbon sinks in the region, finding that they stored most of Europe's carbon between 2010 and 2019. However, data shows a decline in carbon absorption over time, with timber extraction having the biggest influence on the land-based carbon sink.
Researchers developed a new type of battery using sheet-like hard carbon and activated carbon with improved structural stability. The materials showed high specific energy and power output, lasting almost no loss in performance after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles.
A team of scientists found coexisting diamond-magnesite-methane inclusions in deep mantle wedge peridotite using 3D Raman imaging. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the deep carbon cycle and carbon transport processes in subduction zones.
A new model, the Carbon Neutrality Capacity Index (CNCI), evaluates contributions from various carbon sinks, including rock weathering and vegetation. The study reveals that Guizhou has a significantly higher CNCI than China's average, with regions like Libo and Pingtang showing surpluses.
A recent study found that warming in Northern ecosystems leads to a massive loss of carbon in the soil, with up to 40% released into the atmosphere within years after warming. The research team also discovered that plant productivity becomes nitrogen limited under warming conditions, reducing the ecosystem's ability to store carbon.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new, cost-effective way to capture carbon dioxide from industrial emissions. The method uses a nanomaterial called a metal-organic framework (MOF) that can selectively adsorb CO2 in humid conditions, making it suitable for post-combustion applications.
The Carbon SMART project trains farmers to monitor carbon levels in soil and practice climate-smart conservation practices, increasing soil health. The team will primarily work with farmers from underserved communities, monitoring the success of various conservation methods.
A study suggests that global seaweed farming may not be feasible due to the vast ocean areas needed to capture sufficient carbon. To harvest one gigatonne of seaweed-captured carbon annually, over one million square kilometres of productive EEZ waters are required.
A novel framework guides informed and effective soil management as carbon sinks, considering context-dependent environmental conditions. Management targeting 'labile' carbon is more effective in increasing carbon sequestration than focusing on 'stabilized' carbon.
A decade-long study reveals that warmer temperatures lead to significant loss of organic compounds in deep forest soils, affecting carbon sequestration. This finding has implications for natural carbon sinks and soil management practices.
A study by University of Zurich researchers found that global warming is accelerating the decomposition of soil humus and affecting plant storage of carbon. The findings have significant implications for relying on soils as a natural carbon sink to tackle global warming.
A study by University of Waterloo researchers reveals that Canada's carbon price regime exposes high-emitting industries to significant default risks, with assets worth $256 billion at risk. Financial lenders must consider carbon emissions in credit risk assessments to mitigate this risk.
A new study finds that mycorrhizal fungi store up to 36% of yearly global fossil fuel emissions' carbon, equivalent to roughly 13 gigatons. This vast underground network is essential to both storing carbon and global biodiversity.