Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
A new hand-held sensor detects high levels of carbon dioxide in classroom air, which can cause drowsiness and negatively impact learning. The sensor's data can help optimize HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality.
Researchers have successfully engineered a soil bacterium to produce isobutanol, a renewable fuel source that can be used in current engines with minimal modification. The microbe, Ralstonia eutropha, was modified to use carbon dioxide as its carbon source, paving the way for potential applications in industrial-scale production.
A CU-Boulder-led study reveals that Earth's vegetation and oceans have doubled their uptake of carbon dioxide in the past 50 years, despite sharp increases in human CO2 emissions. The trend may not be sustainable, as natural carbon sinks are expected to saturate, leading to increased warming impacts.
Scientists analyzed 50 years of global carbon dioxide measurements and found that the planet's oceans and ecosystems are still absorbing about half of the emitted CO2. However, they expect this process to slow down gradually, and may eventually lose their capacity to absorb CO2.
Scientists at University of Leeds used Diamond Light Source to study calcium oxide-based materials as CO2 sorbents. They found a mechanism for interaction between CaO and water, which led to disintegration and generation of nano-sized crystallites. This new knowledge aims to improve the efficiency of this economically viable method.
Researchers used LiDAR and satellite image analysis to create detailed maps of the Colombian Amazon's carbon stores, unlocking new methods for monitoring and conserving the region. The breakthrough supports the UN's REDD+ program and has implications for climate change mitigation in Colombia.
China's transportation restrictions during the 2008 Olympics reduced carbon dioxide emissions by a significant amount. The study found that this reduction could potentially provide a substantial part of the necessary emissions cut to prevent global warming by 2 degrees Celsius.
Emerging techniques to pull carbon dioxide from the air can help stabilize the climate, but lower-cost technology is a stumbling block. The techniques address sources of CO2 that other types of carbon capture and storage cannot, and have the potential to lower atmospheric CO2 levels significantly.
A study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers shows that extracting carbon dioxide directly from the air using newly-developed adsorbent materials is economically feasible. The technique could be used to supplement capture of CO2 from power plant flue gases, with estimated costs of $100 per ton. The method has the potential to...
Researchers developed a new model to analyze 'well-to-wheel' greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands and conventional crude oils. They found that lifecycle emissions vary widely depending on project conditions and technology used.
Despite grim scientific evidence, coral scientist John Pandolfi believes it's possible to save 60-70% of the world's coral reefs. The key to success lies in reducing local stresses from pollution, runoff, and overfishing, as well as aggressively reducing CO2 emissions.
A team of Harvard and Nanjing University scientists has developed a new method for estimating China's CO2 emissions, combining field studies, satellite data, and provincial-level energy statistics. The resulting estimates offer an unbiased basis for measuring China's progress toward its climate change goals.
Research from Carnegie Institution shows pre-industrial era's clearing of land and forests contribute to atmospheric carbon dioxide, affecting global warming. Accounting for these emissions shifts attribution of global temperature from industrialized nations to developing nations.
A climate model reveals that pre-industrial emissions from land use changes account for 9% of the increase in global mean temperature since the industrial revolution. Historical CO2 emissions from China and India, largely driven by population growth, continue to impact the atmosphere and climate today.
UC Berkeley's BEACON network uses 40 sensors to provide real-time, neighborhood-by-neighborhood measurements of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants. The system aims to inspire local actions to reduce CO2 emissions and inform policy making.
The EUREAPA tool analyzes environmental impacts of different policies and scenarios, allowing policymakers to investigate how different policy changes affect future environmental pressures. It also helps track effects of decisions and ensure meeting of environmental goals.
Researchers at Winrock International developed a more accurate estimate of gross carbon emissions from tropical deforestation for the early 2000s. The study found that global emissions from deforestation were approximately one-third lower than previously published estimates, with Brazil and Indonesia accounting for 55% of total emissions.
Researchers have found that when the Iroko tree is grown in dry, acidic soil and treated with natural fungus and bacteria, it produces mineral limestone that stores carbon. This technique has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions in tropical countries and improve farming conditions.
Biofuels' environmental benefits are overstated due to neglected GHG emissions and flawed Life Cycle Analysis models. The study highlights the omission of CO2 from vehicles using ethanol and biodiesel as a key contributor to this overestimation.
The Lancet Commission on Healthy Cities highlights the need for active planning to address urban health issues, with examples from Mumbai, London, and Bogota. The report recommends five key recommendations to improve urban health, including building political alliances and experimenting with diverse urban health projects.
A new computer model has pinpointed promising materials for efficient carbon capture, potentially reducing parasitic energy costs by 30%. The model has been integrated into power plant design software, allowing researchers to quickly test and optimize material properties.
Researchers found that seagrass beds store up to 19.9 billion metric tons of carbon globally, more than temperate and tropical forests. Seagrasses can store up to twice as much carbon per unit area, mostly in their soils.
The Centre for North Sea Enhanced Oil Recovery with CO2 (CENSEOR-CO2) will develop understanding of enhanced oil recovery technology, creating a commercial use for CO2 captured from power plants and industry. The technology could store 75 million tonnes of CO2 and increase oil removal by five to 25 percent.
Scientists from University of Utah and Harvard develop method to detect changes in CO2 emissions of 15% or more using three monitoring stations. The method is a proof-of-concept step towards verifying compliance with future greenhouse gas treaties.
A study by the University of Edinburgh finds that 360,000 tonnes of milk wasted in the UK each year results in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 100,000 tonnes of CO2, comparable to 20,000 cars annually. Researchers suggest reducing food consumption and waste, as well as improving fertiliser efficiency, can help curb emissions.
A new study reveals that the amount of greenhouse gas released when a forest is cleared depends on how the trees are used and where they're grown. Carbon stored in temperate forests is more likely to remain intact, while tropical forests have nearly all their carbon released into the atmosphere.
A National Academy of Sciences study found that oil palm expansion will lead to a surge in greenhouse gas emissions, with peatlands being a critical contributor. The researchers suggest protecting forests, peatlands, and implementing sustainable practices to reduce emissions and maintain forest cover.
Researchers argue that focusing on short-lived climate pollutants, such as soot and ozone, could deliver tangible local benefits and generate swift global benefits. The authors believe a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches can implement this new strategy.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team developed a new monitoring system to analyze atmospheric gas emissions, separating CO2 from fossil fuels from biological sources. The method uses carbon-14 to estimate emission rates of gases impacting climate change, air quality, and ozone recovery.
A group of environmental scientists suggest applying insurance policies and premiums to strengthen the REDD scheme, addressing leakage, permanence, and additionality issues. This new scheme, iREDD, aims to protect forests and promote biodiversity by ensuring both buyers and sellers are protected.
A study estimates that resurfacing urban areas can provide a CO2 offset between 130 and 150 billion tonnes, equivalent to taking every car off the road for 50 years. This could also generate huge financial savings of $3300-$3800 billion dollars.
A new study suggests that reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from the industrial and agricultural sectors by 50% is crucial to meet the IPCC's most aggressive strategy for climate change mitigation. The study found that a 50% reduction in meat consumption per person is necessary to stabilize atmospheric N2O concentrations.
Researchers found that replacing coal with renewable energy sources like nuclear power and wind/solar energy would be the least expensive way to meet greenhouse gas emissions goals. The study suggests a moderate increase in consumer cost of electric power, at most 20 percent.
A study by University of California, Berkeley chemists links increased fertilizer use to nitrous oxide rise, a major greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change. The study uses nitrogen isotope data to identify the fingerprint of fertilizer use in archived air samples from Antarctica and Tasmania.
The UK has launched its Centre for Carbon Measurement to improve climate data accuracy, support carbon markets, and stimulate green innovation. The centre aims to triple the £6m of low-carbon projects already being supported by NPL over three years.
Key indicators of the planet's state include higher carbon dioxide levels, rising air and ocean temperatures, melting sea ice and permafrost, and biodiversity loss. Scientists warn that if trends are not reversed, critical thresholds will be pushed beyond, leading to catastrophic consequences.
A new MIT analysis reveals there is sufficient room in deep saline aquifers to safely store CO2, addressing a major issue in capturing and storing greenhouse gases. The study models how carbon dioxide would percolate through rock formations, accounting for capacity and injection rates.
A Canadian study finds that warming of at least 2 degrees Celsius will be unavoidable in mid-to-high latitude regions, including Canada. The research uses an earth system climate model to predict that even with zero greenhouse gas emissions, the world's temperature would continue to rise by about a quarter of a degree over a decade.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a microfluidic chip process for analyzing bitumen-gas interaction in heavy oil reservoirs. This method reduces analysis time and costs, using small samples and high pressure CO2 injection, and has potential applications for carbon sequestration.
In 2009, US greenhouse gas emissions from power generation decreased by 8.76 percent, primarily driven by the lower price of natural gas compared to coal. A new econometric model developed at Harvard University suggests that a carbon tax could further reduce emissions with negligible impact on electricity prices.
The Global Carbon Project has opened its first UK office at the University of East Anglia, providing objective scientific data on CO2 emissions and 'sinks' worldwide. The new office will support the annual publication of the project's global carbon budget, which quantifies global CO2 emissions in the previous year.
Carbon capture and storage technology could prevent billions of tons of CO2 emissions each year, but high costs and concerns over safety and permanence hinder its adoption. Stanford scientist Sally Benson emphasizes the need for global scale and monitoring to ensure secure storage.
A team of researchers from Carnegie Institution, GoodPlanet Foundation, and World Wide Fund (WWF) has produced the first large-scale, high-resolution estimates of carbon stocks in remote and fragile Madagascar. The study found that humid mountain forests had the highest carbon densities, while deforestation reduced standing carbon stocks.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change provides a high-resolution map of aboveground biomass density for the world's tropical forests, leading to better tracking of changes in biomass density and improved estimates of carbon emissions. With this map, countries can accurately report their greenhouse gas emissions under the UNFCCC.
The Panama Canal expansion allows for larger container ships, reducing fuel costs and emissions by up to 16% per tonne-mile. The study suggests that the industry can reduce its environmental impact through simple changes in hull design and optimization.
High CO2 levels in ocean water disrupt fish's central nervous system, impairing hearing, smell, turning, and predator evasion. Fish with high oxygen consumption are likely to be most affected.
A NASA study led by Drew Shindell suggests that implementing 14 key air pollution control measures could slow global warming, improve health outcomes, and increase agricultural production. The measures focus on reducing black carbon and methane emissions, which have significant impacts on climate change and human health.
Researchers have discovered that massive volcanic eruptions in the late Permian period likely caused the extinction of nearly all marine species and a majority of land life. Mercury levels were found to be significantly higher than today's human-caused emissions, contributing to the loss of 95% of life in the sea.
Scientists have discovered an improved method to remove carbon dioxide from smokestacks, tailpipes, and the atmosphere. The new materials achieve high carbon dioxide removal capacity, especially in humid air, making them a potential solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A new allocation framework reserves individual emissions paths for developing countries until certain development standards are reached, then requires reductions. Fair allocation of CO2 emissions and carbon budgets considering development dynamics may improve acceptance in climate negotiations.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo found that green routing can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 27% while increasing trip lengths by just 11%. Simple changes like funneling cars along surface streets and intelligently targeting travelers yielded great gains in reducing regional emissions.
Adding biochar to glacial soils reduces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions. Ethylene production is also stimulated by biochar, potentially influencing plant growth.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that shifting truck-borne freight to trains could significantly improve air quality in the Midwest. The study estimates that reducing truck traffic by just 5% would lead to a 31% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to taking about 4 million cars off the road.
The University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre is developing laser technology to map chemical species and soot in jet engine exhausts, aiming to reduce emissions and optimize combustion processes. The FLITES project will establish a world-leading capability for tomographic imaging of exhaust plumes.
Global carbon dioxide emissions increased by 5.9% in 2010, with contributions from China, USA, India, and the European Union. The recovery was short-lived as strong emissions growth resumed in developed economies.
Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have reached a record 10 billion tons, exceeding projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The increase is largely driven by emerging economies, with China and India contributing significantly to global emissions growth.
Scientists at Stanford University subject rocks to hellish conditions to combat global warming by studying the storage of carbon dioxide in geologic formations. They have obtained critical data about the large-scale underground storage of carbon dioxide, including reduced leakage risk and increased permeability.
The Manchester FLITES project aims to produce first-ever images of chemical species in aero-engine exhaust plumes using novel fibre lasers. The four-year study will focus on lowering carbon dioxide emissions, enhancing turbine-related research and development capacity.
Permafrost thaw could release approximately the same amount of carbon as deforestation, but with a greater impact due to methane emissions. The study estimates that by 2100, carbon released from permafrost will be 1.7-5.2 times larger than previous models.
A new OSU study suggests that existing biofuel policies have been costly and ineffective in reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers found that alternative energy efficiency improvements would be more effective in reducing emissions.