A collaborative study led by researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno, found that meadows throughout the region are both gaining and losing carbon at high rates. Meadows with wetland plant communities and dense root mats were large net carbon sinks during the year measured.
New research suggests that a 2°C warming would release 230 billion tonnes of carbon from the world's soil, more than four times China's total emissions over 100 years. This 'positive feedback' effect contributes to further climate change.
A recent study found that leaving more big fish in the sea reduces CO2 emissions by sequestering carbon. Large fish like tuna and sharks contain significant amounts of carbon, which is released into the atmosphere when they are caught.
A RUDN University scientist discovered that adding organic fertilizers can help retain carbon in rice paddies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that soils with different types of fertilizers retained an average of 69% more carbon after fertilization, suggesting a potential solution to mitigate climate change.
Scientists mapped the location and size of over 1.8 billion trees using powerful supercomputers and machine learning algorithms, discovering billions of trees in arid regions. The study provides vital information for researchers, policymakers, and conservationists, including accurate counts of trees and their carbon storage potential.
A new study found that ocean carbon sequestration decreased as phytoplankton failed to devour macronutrients and trap carbon dioxide in the deep ocean. This process, called the biological pump, transfers carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and surface ocean into the dark, deep ocean.
A large retrospective study suggests that the amount of carbon stored in soils is the biggest predictor of how much carbon will combust during a fire. The study found that soil moisture was also significant in predicting carbon release, and that vegetation patterns were complex and interacted with each other to predict combustion amounts.
A team of researchers has applied their model to the emergence of Southeast Asia, finding that volcanic rock provinces in the tropics are a major factor in determining CO2 levels. This discovery sheds light on our current climate crisis and provides insights into how geological processes can help mitigate its effects.
A team of researchers at UC Berkeley has created the last tool in the toolbox for building working carbon circuits, a metallic wire made entirely of carbon. This breakthrough enables the creation of more efficient carbon-based transistors and ultimately, computers that can switch many times faster and use less power.
A University of Alberta PhD student has shed new light on the Earth's carbon cycle using diamonds as breadcrumbs. The study proposes a model where 'superdeep' diamonds crystallize from carbon-rich magmas, which may be critical for their growth.
The UH research center is collaborating with the Southern States Energy Board to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies. The partnership aims to address early technology deployment risks through workforce development and public-private partnerships.
A new study estimates that studying the ocean's biological carbon pump could lead to more accurate climate models, improving policies on carbon emissions. The research suggests a global economic benefit of $500 billion if science informs policy decisions.
Scientists have discovered that a small fraction of carbonate melt is present throughout the Earth's mantle, storing a large mass of carbon. This finding sheds light on seismology and its connection to climate change.
New research led by the Singapore-ETH Centre reveals that mangrove conservation and restoration efforts have slowed down deforestation and preserved carbon stocks globally. The study found a 1.8% net loss of mangrove carbon stocks between 1996 and 2016, significantly lower than previous estimates.
A new approach, Near-term to Net Zero, estimates carbon prices needed for consistency with a net-zero emissions target. The method uses reliable information and avoids uncertainties of long-term changes. Estimated carbon prices range from $32 to $93 per metric ton in 2025.
A new study reveals that cold-climate forests at high latitudes are already absorbing less carbon, casting uncertainty on their ability to continue doing so. In contrast, Siberian forests have increased their carbon uptake four times more than other North American forests, suggesting stark divergent responses across regions.
Researchers found that tropical forest soils are highly sensitive to climate change, with a potential increase of 55% in soil carbon emissions if temperatures rise by four degrees Celsius. This could trigger further global warming and lead to the release of billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
A new study by Texas A&M University researchers demonstrates the use of cellulose nanocrystals to uniformly coat carbon nanotubes on carbon-fiber composites, resulting in increased strength and resistance. This innovative method enables the design of stronger, more efficient composite materials from the nanoscale.
A new paper reveals the mechanism behind sorbent materials' ability to capture and release carbon dioxide from the air. The study's findings could lead to smarter design of sorbent materials at the heart of all carbon removal systems.
Scientists propose new soil carbon-persistence models to effectively draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide. The models focus on the interplay between time and space in soil carbon's changing molecular structure.
A recent study published in AGU Advances reveals that warming peatlands can lead to a rapid release of stored carbon into the atmosphere. The researchers found that even modest temperature increases can trigger significant microbial processes, resulting in faster-than-historical carbon loss rates.
A new study has provided the first global 'bottom-up' terrestrial carbon budget, estimating a net sink of -2.2 ± 0.6 Pg C y-1 between 2000 and 2009. The study reveals that a significant portion of carbon fixed in terrestrial ecosystems is lost through fires, emissions, and export to rivers, rather than being retained in the soil.
A research team at KIST and TUB developed a nano-sized, coral-shaped silver catalyst electrode for high-efficiency carbon dioxide conversion. The new system can produce over 100 times more carbon monoxide than liquid-based systems, showing great promise for commercialization.
A recent study found that tree planting on heather moorland in Scotland did not increase carbon storage, but instead led to a decline in soil organic carbon stocks. The research suggests that planting trees may not be an effective strategy for mitigating climate change in certain areas.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory developed new global models to study the impact of environmental controllers on soil organic carbon, reducing uncertainty in predicting climate change impacts. The models improve the spatial representation of soil organic carbon in Earth system models.
New research reveals that Arctic shrub communities can release stored carbon from soils, offsetting potential carbon sequestration. This could lead to a net source of CO2 in the atmosphere if not addressed.
A new study found that seasonal growth and destruction of sea ice in the Southern Ocean enhances marine life present in the sea around Antarctica, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. The researchers analyzed data from a period when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels plateaued at 240 ppm 14,600 years ago.
A University of Michigan study found that organic carbon in thawing permafrost soils can be converted to carbon dioxide by sunlight, known as photomineralization. This process could contribute an additional 14% of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing global warming by 0.3-0.4°C.
Research reveals that rivers play a crucial role in transporting burned carbon from wildfires and managed burning to oceans, where it can be stored for tens of millennia. The study estimates that 18 million tonnes of dissolved burned carbon are transported annually by rivers.
A new study suggests that the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide will slow down as global emissions decrease, due to the slowed growth rate of atmospheric CO2. This could lead to a decrease in ocean carbon uptake and an increase in atmospheric CO2, contributing to additional warming.
Scientists have created a sensor that can detect carbon dioxide on a simple piece of paper, with potential applications in industries and smart buildings. The paper-based sensor changes colors based on CO2 levels, providing a cheap and efficient solution for carbon dioxide detection.
A Texas A&M-led study analyzed ocean floor sediment cores to reveal the relationship between deep ocean oxygenation and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the past 50,000 years. The research found that enhanced storage of respired carbon in the deep ocean occurred during periods of low atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Researchers will gather new data on pyrogenic carbon and investigate its behavior in tropical savannahs, including the impact of soil depth and fire frequency. The study aims to update models and provide better forecasts of carbon cycle dynamics, informing land management and climate change policies.
A miniaturized carbon dioxide monitoring instrument based on non-dispersive infrared technology has been developed to observe carbon dioxide concentrations in the boundary layer. The instrument provided consistent results with conventional gas chromatography analyzers and revealed that CO2 concentration decreases with increasing altitude.
New research reveals that mature forests do not retain extra carbon absorbed from elevated CO2 levels, but instead release it back to the atmosphere. The study's findings have significant implications for climate models and future carbon sequestration strategies.
Research suggests mature forests cannot absorb additional carbon as atmospheric CO2 concentrations increase. Carbon is quickly cycled through the soil and returned to the atmosphere, with only half being stored by trees and half by fungi and bacteria.
A new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals the ocean's biological carbon pump is more efficient than previously estimated, capturing twice as much carbon as thought. This discovery has significant implications for future climate assessments and policy.
Researchers found that the European Union Trading System (EU ETS) prevented approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted between 2008 and 2016. Low carbon prices were associated with a decrease in demand for emission permits, but still resulted in significant emission reductions.
A team of scientists reports that most of Earth's carbon was hidden in the core during its formative years, with laboratory experiments mimicking the conditions of the planet's formation. The findings suggest that a significant amount of carbon likely exists in the core, influencing chemical and dynamic activities.
Scientists discovered that more carbon than expected stayed in the mantle, suggesting it was sequestered into lighter elements like silicon and oxygen in the core. Despite this, the majority of Earth's total carbon inventory still likely exists in the core.
Researchers estimate Earth's core is composed of approximately 80-90% of the planet's bulk carbon, with a tiny fraction present in the core itself. The study measured the preference of carbon for mixing with iron and nickel at high pressures and temperatures, revealing a significantly lower affinity than previously reported.
Global supply chains account for 10% of all global carbon emissions, which has tripled between 1995 and 2012. Researchers call these emissions "carbon-in-transit," as products move across borders with embedded carbon emissions.
New research by IIASA reveals that tropical forest ecosystems' strength as global carbon sinks depends on multiple interacting factors, including species diversity, soil type, and climate. The study found that abiotic and biotic factors interact to determine the amount of carbon stored by the ecosystem.
Researchers found that laminarin plays a central role in the marine carbon cycle, storing an average of 12 gigatons of carbon annually. The study also revealed that laminarin comprises 50% of organic carbon in sinking diatom-containing particles.
A new NASA/university study uses satellite data to track carbon dioxide emissions in 20 major cities worldwide, revealing that densely populated cities tend to emit less CO2 per person. However, exceptions exist, such as cities with major power generation facilities and affluent areas with high rates of driving.
A team of FSU researchers has found that newly uncovered Arctic landscapes are feeding lakes and streams with rich carbon sources, which is then degraded by intense sunlight. This discovery sheds light on the carbon cycle and its impact on climate change and the types of life these environments may support.
A study tracking 300,000 trees over 30 years reveals that tropical forests' carbon sink is weakening, with a feared switch from absorption to emission imminent. The loss of this critical carbon sink capacity is equivalent to a decade of fossil fuel emissions from major countries.
Scientists at the University of Bristol discovered that carbon chains can form helical shapes dependent on their length, with even-numbered chains adopting fusilli-like structures and odd-numbered chains forming floppy spaghetti-like shapes. The researchers controlled the shape by inserting methyl substituents along the chain.
A new framework reconciles model simulations with laboratory and empirical observations, providing a more accurate understanding of black carbon's climate forcing effect. The study finds that black carbon particles are not uniformly coated, resulting in lower absorption rates than models suggest, but still contribute to climate warming.
Researchers at Waseda University developed a new method to convert carbon dioxide into methane at low temperatures. This process can improve carbon capture and utilization, enabling the production of valuable energy resources.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that nitrogen-fixing trees can double the amount of carbon stored in a forest's first 30 years of regrowth. Forests with these trees also take up 10% more carbon at maturity. Planting fixers as part of reforestation efforts could boost forest development and carbon accumulation.
A new study reveals that intensifying tropical land use is causing forests to contribute less to carbon dioxide uptake, affecting the global carbon cycle. Researchers used satellite data and dynamic vegetation models to estimate carbon dioxide absorption by different ecosystems worldwide.
A University of Tennessee microbiologist is leading a three-year study to understand how global warming affects peatlands and their vast carbon stores. The research aims to predict the impacts of warming on the complex network of microorganisms that cycle carbon and nutrients in peatlands.
Researchers identified families with high carbon footprints as consuming more sweets, alcohol, and restaurant food. These food choices contribute significantly to their higher carbon footprint, with meat consumption explaining less than 10% of the difference.
Coastal wetlands will retain their power as carbon sinks despite sea level rise due to sediment accrual rates outpacing sea level rise. The study found that salt marshes can sequester excess carbon in their sediments, acting as a vault for stored carbon.
Scientists and innovators present the concept of the Circular Carbon Economy, a system where carbon emissions are reduced, reused, recycled, and removed. This approach is inspired by nature and aims to restore the balance of the carbon cycle.
Carbon Hub aims to split hydrocarbons into hydrogen fuel and solid carbon materials, reducing emissions and creating a sustainable future. The initiative partners with companies to develop new technologies and deploy them efficiently.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a direct link between ancient carbon, graphite particles from hydrothermal vents, and seafloor sediments. This finding sheds new light on the dynamics of the marine carbon cycle, revealing that organic carbon can be converted to graphite at vents.
A researcher is studying how carbon moves through landscapes and across land-water boundaries, exploring its impact on water quality and freshwater food webs. The goal is to understand the fate of terrestrial carbon and improve global carbon budgets.
Researchers developed a method to monitor tropical forest carbon emissions at unprecedented detail using satellite imagery and machine learning algorithms. The approach quantified the economic cost of deforestation in Peru, revealing areas with significant net losses of forest carbon due to logging and land conversion.