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New study in oxygen-deprived black sea provides insights on future carbon budget

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.

A new method to estimate total organic carbon content

A new estimation approach for total organic carbon (TOC) content is validated using well data from the Goldwyer Formation. The method provides reliable TOC estimates for wells inside and outside the Barbwire Terrace, as well as global lacustrine shale. This improves assessments of shale play prospects and potential hydrocarbon resource.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Petroleum Engineering Journal·DateAug 29, 2017

Bacteria collaborate to propel the ocean 'engine'

Researchers at the University of Warwick discovered that phototrophic and heterotrophic bacteria collaborate to cycle nutrients, feeding the ecosystem. This interaction is crucial for maintaining a balanced nutrient level, supporting half of the planet's primary production and oxygen supply.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Microbiology·DateJul 5, 2017

Jurassic drop in ocean oxygen lasted a million years

Scientists from the University of Exeter found that a 183 million-year-old oceanic oxygen depletion event ended after one million years due to increased atmospheric oxygen and rising fire activity. This study highlights the critical need to limit carbon emissions to prevent future anoxic events in the modern ocean.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 12, 2017

Study: Early organic carbon got deep burial in mantle

A Rice University study found that fossilized organic carbon could have been deeply buried in the mantle starting around 2.4 billion years ago, during a critical period known as the great oxidation event. The researchers discovered that the chemical composition of subducting crustal rock plays a crucial role in determining whether carb...

SourceRice University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 25, 2017

The ocean below

The article discusses a scientific plan developed by UCSB researchers to quantify present conditions in the ocean's carbon cycle and predict its future states. The plan, known as EXPORTS, combines modeling, satellite data, and field sampling to understand how carbon is processed by the world's oceans.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateMar 30, 2016

Scientists solve deep ocean carbon riddle

Research reveals that hydrothermal vent systems convert long-lived organic carbon into more readily available forms, balancing the continuous supply from surface oceans. This mechanism addresses the long-standing question of why deep ocean dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels remain constant.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 28, 2015

Ocean bacteria get 'pumped up'

Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered that stressed and dying phytoplankton release chemicals that stimulate marine bacteria to quickly convert organic carbon back into CO2. This process reduces the amount of sinking detritus, releasing more CO2 into the shallow ocean and atmosphere.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 27, 2015

Study: Melting glaciers have big carbon impact

Researchers estimate that 50% more organic carbon will be exported in glacier outflow over the next 35 years, equivalent to half of the Mississippi River's annual organic carbon influx. This increase has major implications for high-latitude marine ecosystems, particularly those surrounding ice sheets.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 19, 2015

Study on global carbon cycle may require reappraisal of climate events in Earth's history

Scientists at the University of Miami re-evaluate the global carbon cycle by analyzing marine sediment cores, suggesting that post-depositional changes can mimic ancient trends. This new perspective highlights the importance of understanding geological context in interpreting carbon isotope records.

Researchers question published no-till soil organic carbon sequestration rates

A team of researchers found that some studies have shown no-till systems without cover crops may not increase soil organic carbon stocks as claimed. The review suggests that different definitions and methods can lead to conflicting findings, and the accuracy of determining soil organic carbon sequestration depends on the method used.

First meteorite linked to Martian crust

Researchers have identified a new class of Martian meteorite that likely originated from the Mars' crust, containing an order of magnitude more water than any other Martian meteorite. The unique meteorite, dubbed Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034, has similarities to but is distinct from other Martian meteorites known as SNC.

Alpine glaciers contribute to carbon cycling

Researchers have discovered that Alpine glaciers contain diverse biogeochemical complexes of dissolved organic matter, which is surprisingly bioavailable. This finding highlights the importance of glaciers as 'freezers' that preserve organic matter for microbial heterotrophs.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 17, 2012

Potential methane reservoirs beneath Antarctica

A new study suggests that beneath Antarctica's ice sheet lies a massive potential methane reservoir, with estimates suggesting up to 400 billion tonnes of carbon. Microorganisms in sub-ice environments have been found to metabolize organic carbon into methane gas, which could be released during future ice-sheet collapse.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature·DateAug 29, 2012

UK researchers shed light on magnetic mystery of graphite

Researchers from the University of Manchester have discovered that commercially available graphite crystals contain micron-sized clusters of predominantly iron, which explain their weak signs of magnetism. This finding could be a breakthrough for utilising graphite as a bio-compatible magnet for medicine and biology.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEPL (Europhysics Letters)·DateJan 26, 2012

Orchids and fungi: An unexpected case of symbiosis

Researchers found that fully photosynthetic orchids associate with specific fungal clades, not shared with other sympatric orchids, and depend on their symbionts for nutrition. The study used stable isotope analysis to assess how much of the organic carbon and nitrogen in orchid tissue was acquired from their fungal partners.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateJul 11, 2011