Researchers aim to refine understanding of how carbon moves in the ocean by studying lesser-known mechanisms such as particle injection pumps. These processes, including vertical migration and subduction, are thought to sequester significant amounts of carbon, rivaling the biological gravitational pump.
A new study finds that shoreline erosion can transform freshwater wetlands from carbon-storage pools to carbon sources, with a large mismatch between accumulation and erosion rates. The researchers developed a model to assess the impact of freshwater coastal erosion on global carbon budgets.
A new study found that grasslands increase in vegetation biomass when exposed to elevated carbon dioxide levels, especially during rainy periods. This suggests that seasonal precipitation plays a crucial role in determining the impact of CO2 on plant growth.
Coastal wetlands worldwide store more carbon than forests and can double their capacity when faced with rising seas. The study found that carbon concentrations in top soil layers increased by 2-4 times, while deeper layers saw a 5-9 times increase.
Negative-emission technologies (NETs) that capture carbon dioxide from the air could address about 30% of needed reductions in carbon-dioxide emissions. Scientists estimate that NETs face challenges on cost-effectiveness and disposal methods.
Researchers have developed a new technique that can efficiently convert CO2 from gas into solid particles of carbon at room temperature. This breakthrough could transform our approach to carbon capture and storage, offering a more sustainable alternative to current technologies.
A new study reveals that peatlands have been a significant carbon sink over the past 130,000 years, storing carbon in their deposits and potentially slowing down climate change. The research, published in PNAS, fills a key knowledge gap about the global extent of peatlands and their role in the carbon cycle.
Research at the University of Birmingham reveals that young forests are a substantial contributor to the world's carbon sink, accounting for around 25% of total carbon dioxide absorption. These forests, typically in temperate zones, have been re-growing on land with previously experienced human activities.
Artificial leaves have been designed to mimic photosynthesis and convert carbon dioxide into fuel, with a proposed design using semi-permeable membranes to collect CO2 from the air. The system could produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide for synthetic fuels and reduce atmospheric CO2 levels by 10% within 100 meters.
Researchers found that many Arctic lakes are self-contained units with low carbon emissions, contradicting previous assumptions about the region's role in global carbon cycles. The study's findings suggest that these lakes may not be significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, at least for now.
For the first time, researchers have created carbon fibers with uniform pores, enabling greater surface area and improved energy storage. This breakthrough, achieved using block copolymers, opens up new possibilities for designing functional materials.
Researchers estimate carbon emissions from farmland reclamation in China over the past 300 years, with vegetation emissions ranging from 1.58 Pg and soil emissions from 1.35 to 4.03 Pg. Carbon emissions vary greatly across ecosystems, with forests releasing the most and deserts acting as carbon sinks.
A global carbon tax could reduce greenhouse gas emissions efficiently, according to a survey of people in the US, India, UK, South Africa, and Australia. The majority of respondents supported carbon taxes if revenues were returned to citizens or spent on climate projects.
Researchers found that soil minerals can store a significant amount of carbon, which could be exploited as the world shifts its carbon economy. Wetter climates facilitate mineral formation, allowing more carbon to be stored.
Scientists will investigate soil carbon formation, stabilization, and loss with a £1.8 million grant from the Natural Environment Research Council. The study aims to quantify increases in soil carbon storage that can mitigate climate change and improve global food security.
Leading scientists propose eight steps to boost global soil organic carbon stocks, mitigate climate change and improve agricultural productivity. The KJWA aims to formalize these measures through coordination and financing.
Climate researchers warn that peatlands in the Peruvian Amazon may lose up to 500 million tons of carbon by the end of the century due to warmer temperatures and increased precipitation. This loss could lead to a significant increase in global carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change.
A recent study by Michigan State University found that floods significantly transport large amounts of organic carbon through ecosystems, contrary to the traditional view of the carbon cycle as vertical. The research analyzed over 1,000 watersheds across the US and found that wetlands play a crucial role in storing and releasing carbon.
Researchers found that streamside forests store an average of 168-390 tons of carbon per acre in mature trees, while soil carbon can triple with restoration. Actively restoring forests jump-starts the process, gaining more than twice the rate of naturally regenerating forests over the first ten years.
A NUS study found that mangroves can capture more carbon than tropical rainforests, making them a key solution to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves can store organic carbon in water-saturated soil, effectively mitigating climate change.
A recent study reveals that eelgrass meadows store significant amounts of organic carbon, comparable to tropical seagrass species and mangroves. The distribution area of these meadows has decreased by at least 1/3rd over the past 50 years, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Researchers at MIT have developed a self-healing material that can grow, strengthen and repair itself by reacting with carbon dioxide from the air. The material, made from a polymer and chloroplasts, becomes stronger as it incorporates the carbon.
A recent assessment of Alaska's carbon cycle reveals both alarming signs of rapid warming and potential counteracting effects. The state's forests, permafrost, lakes, and rivers store significant amounts of terrestrial carbon, which could be released into the atmosphere at an increased rate due to climate change. However, warmer temper...
Researchers found that plants with thicker leaves under high CO2 levels may exacerbate climate change by reducing carbon sequestration. This response could lead to an extra 5.8 petagrams of carbon in the atmosphere per year, similar to human-generated emissions.
Researchers found that certain invasive plant species can increase blue carbon storage by boosting biomass and soil carbon, while other plant invasions have a negative impact. The study's findings provide valuable insights for ecosystem managers seeking to enhance carbon storage in coastal environments.
University of Montana researchers discovered that ecosystems' carbon balance depends on water availability and annual precipitation thresholds. The study suggests climate models need improvement to accurately predict terrestrial carbon dynamics.
A new type of battery developed by MIT researchers can convert carbon dioxide into a solid mineral carbonate as it discharges. This approach could potentially reduce the cost of carbon capture systems and make them more economically viable. The battery is made from lithium metal, carbon, and an electrolyte that incorporates captured CO2.
The study found that less food energy at depth makes it difficult for microbes to decompose organic carbon deposits, creating an underground storehouse. As a result, carbon is more likely to be stored long-term due to slower decomposition rates.
Researchers developed a model that predicts black carbon's direct radiative effect with high accuracy, considering particle size and mixing state. The study finds that accurately describing these factors is crucial to understanding black carbon's contribution to climate change.
Peatlands, which store up to 530 billion tons of global carbon, are vulnerable to climate change due to changing temperature and precipitation patterns. The study found that temperate regions in warmer periods can accumulate more carbon than tropical regions, but ultimately release it as warming intensifies.
A new study found that coal-fired power plants require 13 times more land to be carbon neutral than solar panel manufacturing, making solar the more efficient option. To achieve carbon neutrality with coal, 89% of US land would need to be covered in forests or optimal crops.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that using a mix of fuel-saving, flexible, and highly reliable sources is key to building a cost-effective and reliable zero-carbon electricity system. The study found that pairing low-carbon sources with steady carbon-free resources can reduce costs by up to 62% compared to relying on wind, solar...
The study found that microbes mediate the microbial carbon pump (MCP), which takes up labile organic carbon and removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The MCP's importance may increase under global warming due to changes in planktonic organisms favorable for MCP.
Beaver dams raise water levels, releasing organic carbon to the atmosphere. Research indicates beavers can act as both carbon sinks and sources, with some ponds fixing up to 470,000 tons of carbon per year or releasing 820,000 tons annually.
Researchers at Aalto University developed a method to control the fabrication of carbon nanotube thin films, producing colored thin films for various applications. The breakthrough uses aerosols of metal and carbon, with small doses of carbon dioxide tuning the growth of nanotubes.
Research found that biodiversity increases live tree carbon storage by up to 20 megagrams per hectare, but has a smaller impact on overall carbon storage. Climate and site topography have a more significant effect on forest carbon storage.
A recent study shows that common soil carbon measurement methods, including clod, core, and excavation, yield significantly different results. The core method was found to greatly underestimate soil organic carbon stocks, particularly in deeper soil layers.
Mangroves are found in tropical coastal settings worldwide and can store greater amounts of carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem. A new study provides more accurate estimates of blue carbon storage, revealing that it has been underestimated by up to 50% in some areas and overestimated by up to 86% in others.
A recent study suggests that rising temperatures are causing soil microbes to convert more carbon into carbon dioxide, entering the atmosphere at an increasing rate. This phenomenon is outpacing plant photosynthesis and has significant implications for the planet's carbon cycle.
Researchers found that land sparing, combining high-yield agriculture with preserving natural habitats, stores greater amounts of carbon than other systems. Lower-yield farming practices consistently held more carbon than high-yield farms due to increased area requirements.
A new study of lake sediments reveals that increased westerly winds are likely to reduce the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This could accelerate climate change as the Southern Ocean currently absorbs over 40% of human-produced carbon dioxide.
A new study by Florida State University researchers has found that tiny phaeodarian organisms in the ocean's twilight zone are consuming up to 20% of sinking, carbon-rich particles before they reach the deep ocean. This discovery suggests a significant impact on Earth's carbon cycle and challenges current climate dynamics.
A study found that protecting tropical forest carbon stocks is ineffective for biodiversity in ecologically valuable forests. In fact, up to 77% of species protected through carbon conservation were not saved in these areas. The researchers suggest focusing on both carbon and biodiversity conservation efforts to safeguard unique wildlife.
Carbon nanotubes enable the creation of 'smart' materials for powering electronics, with potential applications in military technology and medical research. The unique properties of carbon nanotubes make them suitable for replacing traditional materials such as copper wire and polyester fibers.
A University of California, Davis study found that grasslands are more resilient carbon sinks than forests in 21st century California, especially when considering the impacts of droughts and wildfires. Grasslands store most of their carbon underground, making them a viable option for carbon offset efforts.
Researchers at the University of Zurich discovered that black carbon can age for millennia on land and in rivers before being exported to the ocean, forming a major long-term sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. This finding adds a significant piece to the puzzle of understanding the global carbon cycle.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change found that mangroves store significantly more carbon than previously estimated, with blue carbon levels underestimated by up to 50 percent and overestimated by up to 86 percent. The research provides a higher quality dataset for tropical countries to mitigate carbon enrichment.
Researchers used LiDAR technology to map carbon storage in urban forests, finding areas like Hampstead Heath store up to 178 tonnes of carbon per hectare. This study highlights the value of urban trees for mitigating climate change and demonstrates their potential as a vital resource for cities.
Researchers reexamined ocean circulations and river carbon transport, finding the Southern Ocean is a smaller carbon sink than thought. Land in the northern hemisphere absorbs less carbon, but rivers send it to the ocean with increased strength, challenging current estimates.
Direct air capture technology captures CO2 from the atmosphere and converts it into fresh fuels, reducing carbon footprint of transportation with minimal disruption. The resulting fuels are compatible with existing infrastructure and have ultra-low life cycle carbon intensities.
A new study surveyed the carbon footprints of 13,000 cities worldwide, finding that the top 100 highest-footprint cities contribute to approximately 20% of global emissions. By targeting these concentrated emission hotspots, local mayors and governments can significantly reduce national total carbon footprints.
Vanderbilt University researchers have discovered a way to produce cheap and small carbon nanotubes from air, which are supermaterials stronger than steel and more conductive than copper. This breakthrough could steer the conversation towards using these materials in future technology, rather than just focusing on reducing emissions.
A new satellite measuring carbon balance will aid experts and politicians in addressing climate change, while providing detailed emissions data by country. The tool helps track the impact of deforestation and drought on CO2 emissions, crucial for the UN's work on reducing greenhouse gases.
Scientists have developed high-strength, super-tough carbon sheets by chemically stitching together platelets of graphitic carbon at low temperatures. The material's mechanical properties exceed those of current carbon fiber composites, offering potential cost savings and improved performance for various applications.
A team of researchers discovered that deep ocean aquifers can break down more refractory carbon than previously thought. Microbes in the aquifer consume carbon, changing the composition of the surrounding seawater. This finding has the potential to reshape our understanding of carbon cycling in the deep ocean.
Researchers found that capturing and compressing 45 megatons of CO2 from US ethanol biorefineries could be cost-effective at under $25 per ton. Implementing carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) in California's low-carbon fuel standards and federal tax credits could catalyze substantial growth of CCS infrastructure.
The Chinese observation satellite TanSat has produced its first global carbon dioxide maps, providing valuable data for future climate change research. The maps show a seasonal decrease in carbon dioxide concentration from spring to summer in the Northern Hemisphere and emission hotspots due to anthropogenic activity.
Researchers estimate that 67% of organic carbon within bedrock is released during erosion, with certain microbe populations using the carbon for nourishment. The findings suggest that this process could negate geological carbon dioxide consumption and impact Earth's climate.
A new study reveals that tidal wetlands and estuaries bury the majority of carbon in coastal waters, with 80% of it being stored. This finding helps establish how coastal waters influence atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and climate.
Researchers studying the Black Sea's oxygen-deprived waters found that chemical and biological processes similar to those in the deep ocean occur. This provides new insights into the ocean's role as a storage reservoir for carbon, helping to dampen the effects of human-driven climate change.