Articles tagged with Carbon Sequestration
Climate change may lead to significant declines in US forest inventories, particularly in the South, resulting in reduced timber production and increased costs. The study projects losses of up to 23% by 2100, with potential gains in some regions driven by climate-adaptive species.
Scientists at PNNL have created a new system that efficiently captures CO2 and converts it into methanol, reducing emissions and establishing a market for CO2-containing materials. The technology could help stimulate the development of other carbon capture technologies and promote a more circular economy.
The CABBI team successfully demonstrated precision gene editing in miscanthus, a promising perennial crop for sustainable bioenergy production. The results will accelerate efforts to tap the huge potential of this highly productive but genetically complex grass as a source for biofuels, renewable bioproducts, and carbon sequestration.
Researchers developed a new approach to determine the rate of organic carbon burial in marine sediments, using data from deep-sea drilling sites. This method provides more accurate results than traditional isotope calculations, revealing higher rates of carbon sequestration during warm periods and lower rates during cooling intervals.
Researchers propose alternative fertilizer production methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but emphasize the need for careful environmental assessment. The global food supply depends on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which require significant energy and lead to carbon pollution.
Researchers found that nitrogen-fixing trees experience 26% more herbivory than non-fixers, reducing their ability to alleviate nitrogen deficits in tropical soils. This selective feeding by insects and other animals limits the success of fixers and the nitrogen they provide.
West Virginia University researchers, Ember Morrissey and Kinsey Reed, are working with private farms to diversify forage species and improve soil health. The project aims to increase economic gains for farmers while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Marine protected areas significantly increase carbon sequestration in seagrass and mangrove ecosystems. Biodiversity and species richness also rise in preserved waters, contributing to food security and human well-being. Full protection is necessary for maximum benefits.
Researchers found that ocean bacteria absorbing carbon dioxide from the air need more energy and resources when infected with viruses and facing predator attacks. This complex interaction can lead to increased carbon sequestration, a key factor in mitigating climate change.
Researchers developed an ultra-compact seismic source to continuously monitor carbon reservoirs, detecting CO2 leaks and changes that require attention. The Portable Active Seismic Source (PASS) technology can be deployed affordably and has potential applications in monitoring for disasters and imaging subsurface structures.
Researchers have discovered that Mexican mangrove forests have been absorbing and storing carbon for an impressive 5,000 years. The study found that these unique ecosystems are capable of retaining large amounts of carbon due to the presence of certain microorganisms.
The Texas Climate-Smart Initiative aims to expand climate-smart commodity markets and leverage greenhouse gas benefits. Project partners will provide technical and financial assistance to producers to implement climate-smart production practices.
The study quantifies the impact of human activity on the Atlantic Rainforest's carbon storage capacity, highlighting that forest degradation leads to significant losses and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Conservation efforts are crucial to reverse these effects and protect the biome's carbon stocks.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University find that existing coal-fired plants can produce electricity at a cost comparable to renewables with energy storage. The study suggests modifications to current tax incentives to increase deployment of carbon-constrained fossil-fuel and negative emissions technologies.
A team has developed a plan to retrofit train cars with direct air capture technology, which can remove up to 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The system uses energy generated from the train's braking system, reducing costs and environmental impact.
A new study found that as the globe warms, infected pines starve and disease-causing fungi become more aggressive, reducing the trees' capacity to carry out photosynthesis and invest in growth and defense. This can lead to a decrease in carbon sequestration rates, exacerbating climate change.
Researchers highlight the importance of linking carbon conservation with threatened forest primates, which could enhance climate action and biodiversity protection. The study found that 15.5 gigatonnes of irrecoverable carbon are stored in areas with high primate species richness, equivalent to 40% of current annual fossil fuel emissions.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory demonstrate a system that can detect propane leaks within seconds, alerting emergency services. They also study the secrets of silicon deposits in plants to enhance soil carbon storage. Additionally, they assess the viability of retrofitting untapped dams for hydropower electricity generation.
Researchers from Japan developed a new model to assess mangrove forest productivity, which is influenced by environmental factors such as sea surface temperature and salinity. The model uses satellite data to estimate productivity and performed better than traditional terrestrial models.
Research published in Forests journal reveals that thinning pine forests can increase carbon sequestration by optimizing forest growth and incorporating organic matter into the soil. This study, part of the Silvadapt project, found that higher-intensity thinning led to greater carbon storage in the forests.
Researchers argue that the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use is too vague regarding gross vs net deforestation. This distinction matters for carbon dioxide emissions. Stopping gross deforestation would significantly reduce emissions.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that the environmental stress of too much water wipes out the plant growth benefits of higher CO2 levels. Rising sea levels have caused the effects of increased CO2 to disappear in a 33-year field experiment, highlighting the critical need for conservation and adaptation efforts.
A USC-led team discovered that bacteria size and type influence the speed of carbon transfer to the ocean's deepest waters. The research enables a computer model for estimating carbon transfer rates, which could help understand Earth's natural carbon cycle.
Engineers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a promising electrochemical system to convert emissions from chemical and power plants into useful products while addressing climate change. The two-step cascade reaction converts carbon dioxide to ethylene, a chemical used in various industries.
Researchers from Environmental Defense Fund and Woodwell Climate Research Center recommend a regional crediting framework to strengthen the integrity of the voluntary soil carbon market. Implementing this approach can help ensure measurable, reliable, long-term climate solutions.
Urbanization in China has led to an increase in biomass and carbon stocks, both in rural areas and recently developed cities. The country's afforestation strategy and green policy initiatives have contributed to this positive effect on its climate balance.
A new study by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute reduces uncertainty in predicting carbon dioxide release from deforestation scenarios. It highlights the capacity of young, regenerating or secondary forests to pull greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, suggesting that these forests can store up to 15% of Panama's national carbo...
Researchers at West Virginia University aim to develop more precise predictions about the role of individual soil microorganisms in the carbon cycle. They will use stable isotope probing to track carbon uptake and characterize the function of microbes in their natural communities.
The study found that nitrogen fertilizer accelerated residue decomposition, producing more carbon dioxide and reducing the incorporation of residues into soil organic matter. This long-term problem can cause microbes to attack stable organic matter, leading to a decline in soil health.
A new study from the University of Bath is shedding light on the behavior of saline solutions under extreme conditions, a crucial step towards carbon storage in deep-sea aquifers. The research uses neutron diffraction to examine the interaction between salt ions and water molecules at high pressures and temperatures.
Researchers used synchrotron X-ray scattering and quantum computer modeling to investigate temperature's impact on amorphous magnesium carbonate. The findings suggest that modifying the precursor material's physical properties can help create more efficient carbon capture technologies.
A study at the University of Plymouth found that retrofitting an existing building with a green wall reduced heat loss by 31.4%. The study suggests that living walls can provide significant energy savings and help reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings.
The study assessed meadow ecosystem biomass to understand its contribution to carbon sequestration. It used species composition and functional groups to predict biomass values, finding a reliable method for assessing productivity without collecting data.
Researchers at Princeton University urge for increased policy support and investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce energy sector emissions. Current storage capacity is insufficient to meet ambitious decarbonization targets, highlighting the need for strategic planning and characterization capabilities.
Researchers from University of Texas at Austin have discovered a way to accelerate the formation of CO2 hydrate structures that can store billions of tons of carbon for centuries. By adding magnesium, these structures form 3,000 times faster than current methods, offering a promising alternative to reduce climate change.
ORNL is increasing its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the US agricultural sector through science-based changes in practices. The lab has discovered a single gene that can make crops more drought-tolerant and productive, while also pulling CO2 from the atmosphere.
A recent study employs machine learning to guide the design of novel materials for CO2 capture, identifying elemental composition and textural properties as key factors. The research team's findings suggest prioritizing adsorption parameters and surface area optimization for high CO2 adsorption efficiency.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme that enables the accumulation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in plant cell walls, a potential game-changer for sustainable industrial chemical production. By controlling the expression of this enzyme, plants can be engineered to produce more of this valuable chemical building block.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists developed a method to dispose wastewater safely, reducing the danger of triggering earthquakes. The approach was tested in Italy's largest onshore oil field and found to be sustainable.
Researchers warn that rising temperatures and drought will reduce California's natural ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, potentially limiting the state's progress toward achieving carbon neutrality. The study highlights the importance of present-day drought and wildfire in driving carbon sequestration losses.
Researchers found that geologic formations in northern Delaware Basin, with previous hydrocarbon production, have lower pore pressures and no earthquakes. In contrast, southern basin has higher initial pressures and earthquakes. Targeting these sites for carbon sequestration could limit earthquake risk.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria found in brackish sediments can 'eat' electricity and absorb climate-warming carbon dioxide. This unusual skill was previously thought to be exclusive to freshwater bacteria, but may be common in marine bacteria.
The UK is investing £30 million in five large-scale greenhouse gas removal projects, including peatland management and biochar use, to complement emission reductions. The projects will assess the effectiveness and scalability of innovative methods to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
Scientists at NREL have demonstrated that white-rot fungi can use carbon captured from lignin as a carbon source, consuming it and utilizing it to grow. This discovery provides another strategy for carbon sequestration in nature.
Researchers found that tidal wetlands accumulate ~54 Tg C yr-1, which is ~30% of the organic C buried on the ocean floor. The study highlights the potential for preserving and rehabilitating mangroves and salt marshes to offset up to 0.6% of current CO2 emissions.
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 recent study published in Nature Sustainability found that incentives for afforestation in Chile led to an increase in forest plantations but a decrease in the extent of native forests. This research highlights the need for careful policy design and application to protect natural ecosystems.
A recent study found that fragmentation of large organic particles into small ones accounts for roughly half of particle loss in the ocean, controlling sequestration of sinking organic carbon. Sinking particles like plankton and detritus play a critical role in lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
A study by Oregon State University researchers found that preserving temperate forests in the western United States can mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, while also enhancing biodiversity. The identified forests have medium to high potential for carbon sequestration and low future climate vulnerability.
Scientists have found millimeter- to centimeter-sized wood fragments in sediment cores from the Bengal Fan, a large deposit in the Bay of Bengal. This discovery suggests that wood burial at continental margins may be a previously overlooked component of carbon sequestration.
A new study maps 154 land restoration projects in Latin America, revealing their potential to mitigate climate change through forest restoration. The research highlights the importance of natural regeneration and assisted regeneration methods for increasing vegetation cover and biodiversity.
A new study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers reveals that structurally complex forests in the eastern US outperform simpler ones in carbon sequestration. The discovery suggests that a forest's arrangement of vegetation is a key factor in its ability to absorb and store carbon.
A new Oregon State University study finds that West Coast forest landowners will gradually shift away from planting Douglas-fir in a warming climate. The share of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest is expected to decline to 25% by the end of the century.
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.
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.
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.
Policies such as ecological restoration and improved crop residue management have contributed to increased carbon sequestration in China. China's distribution and magnitude of carbon pools vary in response to climate change and human activities.
Researchers are using seismic data collected through a novel real-time monitoring system to track the spread of carbon dioxide underground. The team aims to refine the picture of what's happening underground as carbon dioxide spreads and increases in concentration in different rock features.
Researchers studied the impact of reforestation on carbon sequestration in US topsoils and found that lands undergoing reforestation store increased topsoil carbon. These lands are predicted to sequester 1.3-2.1 petagrams of carbon within a century, offsetting approximately 1% of annual US greenhouse gas emissions.
A North Carolina State University study reveals that fire suppression in Brazilian savannas leads to a loss of plant and ant species, with some species declining by up to 86%. The findings highlight the importance of fire in maintaining biodiversity in tropical savannas.