Articles tagged with Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Researchers have discovered that evergreen tree species, such as holly and ivy, are more water-efficient under rising CO2 concentrations, potentially giving them a competitive edge over deciduous trees. This advantage is expected to be particularly pronounced in cooler climates like Ireland.
A new study suggests that volcanic eruptions triggered by tectonics led to the Great Oxidation Event, a significant increase in oxygen in Earth's atmosphere about 2.5 billion years ago. The research proposes that this event was also linked to a change in the composition of carbon isotopes in carbonate rock record.
Under future climate change, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe, with a tripling of globally-averaged reductions in plant production by the end of this century. This could have devastating impacts on plant populations and the global carbon cycle.
A study simulates forest responses to projected climate changes using a model of plant physiology. Acclimation allows trees to adjust leaf area, photosynthetic capacity, and stand density to avoid stress, but its effectiveness varies with warming levels.
Researchers extracted pristine samples of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases from 2 million-year-old ice cores in Antarctica. These 'snapshots' of prehistoric atmospheric conditions provide direct access to greenhouse gas measurements and shed light on the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a period that saw significant changes in globa...
A study reveals a decline in forest carbon storage time, hindering forests' ability to absorb and re-emit carbon. Forests are crucial for regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and increased tree mortality is contributing to this decline.
Scientists at Chinese Academy of Sciences create highly stable and coke-resistant Ni SAC, overcoming in situ catalyst deactivation. The unique capacity for selective activation of CH4's first C-H bond explains the intrinsic coke resistance.
Researchers at Arizona State University found that some aquatic plants depend on the landscape for carbon through bicarbonate extraction, not just atmospheric CO2. This discovery highlights the importance of understanding how freshwater ecosystems function and respond to environmental changes.
Climate scientists have found that individual climate models may not provide the complete picture of the Earth's climate sensitivity due to underestimated internal climate variability. Combining uncertainty from multiple models yields wider distributions, improving long-term predictions.
A NASA-funded study reveals that winter carbon dioxide loss from the Arctic permafrost region could increase by 41% over the next century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace. This would mark a stark reversal for the Arctic, which has captured and stored carbon for tens of thousands of years.
Researchers from UCLA, Oxford, and others analyzed 10 industrial applications for carbon dioxide emissions, finding that utilizing CO2 could help the environment by reducing emissions. The study suggests a potential scale of over 10 gigatonnes of CO2 use per year at under $100 per tonne.
Research shows that losing intact tropical forests results in a 626% increase in climate impact, equivalent to two years of global land-use change emissions. The study highlights the devastating effects of deforestation on the climate and emphasizes the need for better funding and conservation efforts.
Research team finds wood chips from ancient trees dating back 19 million years in ocean core samples, revealing a previously unrecognized way carbon remains locked away for millions of years. The discovery suggests that the amount of carbon exported and buried by modern rivers may be 50% greater than previously thought.
UCI researchers found that as trees and plants conserve water due to high CO2 levels, soil moisture builds up underground, leading to increased rain runoff. This 'forest effect' can significantly impact river dynamics, particularly in regions like the Mississippi River basin.
A new study reveals that northern peatlands store 1.1 trillion tons of carbon, more than humans have emitted to the atmosphere through fossil fuels. The findings suggest that these boggy areas play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and climate change.
The ancient Maya created massive agricultural features in wetlands to respond to population and environmental pressures. This study reveals that the Maya had earlier, more intensive and more wide-ranging anthropogenic impacts on globally important tropical forests than previously known.
A new study finds that warmer tropical soils release more car-bon, leading to a 9% increase in atmospheric CO2 by the century's end. The increased microbial activity and changes in soil microbes also promote a positive feedback loop, exacerbating global warming.
A new research study has revealed that humans lived in a low-carbon-dioxide atmosphere for 2.5 million years, with concentrations averaging 230 parts per million, until 1965. Today's levels are about 410 parts per million.
Scientists have found that rising carbon dioxide concentration in the air enhances land carbon sink, a process known as carbon dioxide fertilization. For every 100-ppm increase in CO2, terrestrial carbon sink increases by 0.64 billion tons of carbon per year globally.
Research reveals that horizontal and vertical circulation of carbon-rich ocean water in the subpolar Southern Ocean work together to control carbon storage and release. The study found that large gyres, such as the Weddell Gyre, play a key role in transporting carbon-containing phytoplankton out of the region.
A new study reveals that biological processes in the polar Southern Ocean are the key drivers of carbon dioxide absorption, challenging existing assumptions. This finding has significant implications for understanding past and future climate change.
Glacier-fed rivers in Canada's north are actively consuming atmospheric CO2, according to a University of Alberta study. Chemical weathering is the process behind this phenomenon, involving interactions between glacial sediments and melt waters with the atmosphere.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change offers a roadmap for detecting changes in the ocean due to climate change. The research found that sea temperature rise and ocean acidification have already emerged, while other impacts such as changes in ocean microbes will take several decades to a century to appear.
Researchers discovered that glacial meltwaters in Canada are a net carbon dioxide sink due to consumption of CO2 in mineral weathering. This finding suggests that glacial meltwaters globally may also act as unrecognized sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A recent study found that seaweed can travel up to 5000 kilometers beyond coastal areas and sequester significant amounts of carbon. This discovery has significant implications for the global carbon budget and highlights the importance of macroalgae in blue carbon assessments.
Current artificial leaves convert only 15% of inhaled CO2 into fuel and release 85%, while new bipolar membrane technology increases efficiency to 60-70%
Research suggests that forest elephant extinction will lead to an increase in fast-growing tree species, which store less carbon than slow-growing species. This shift will reduce the forest's ability to sequester carbon, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere.
Wheat yields may increase with rising CO2 levels, but at the cost of reduced nutritional quality. Researchers found a 104% higher yield under elevated CO2 conditions, accompanied by declines in nitrogen and protein content.
Researchers at Salk Institute discovered a gene that determines root growth depth in plants, enabling the development of crops with deeper roots to store more carbon. The finding is part of the Harnessing Plants Initiative, which aims to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels through plant-based solutions.
A study found that pushing past a critical threshold in the carbon cycle can trigger extreme ocean acidification, potentially leading to mass extinctions. The research suggests that once this threshold is breached, the Earth's response becomes self-sustaining, amplifying the effects of initial triggers.
Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a method to directly synthesize graphene from greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The process involves a catalytically active metal surface, resulting in a simple one-step conversion. This breakthrough could lead to the production of valuable materials and contribute to r...
Researchers estimated Earth's potential for additional tree cover, which could cut atmospheric CO2 levels by 25%. The study suggests an extra 0.9 billion hectares of tree cover, storing over 200Gt of carbon, equivalent to two-thirds of human-made emissions.
A new study by ETH Zurich reveals that reforestation efforts could store two-thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon released into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. The greatest potential for forest restoration lies in six countries: Russia, US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and China.
A new study suggests that increased reactivity of land surfaces led to a decrease in CO2 in the atmosphere, resulting in cooling. The researchers used isotope analysis and computer modeling to show that constant rock weathering was not the primary cause of the temperature drop before the last ice age.
The study found that climate change could lead to a decline in ectomycorrhizal tree species by up to 10% if CO2 emissions continue unabated until 2070. This decline may have significant implications for forest ecosystems and growth.
Researchers studied ocean's carbon cycle to improve climate models and predict future changes. They found the ocean absorbs CO2 slower in the 1990s but faster in the 2000s, influencing atmospheric accumulation rates.
A recent study published in Nature Communications proposes that a significant rise in oxygen levels during the Cambrian period was triggered by extraordinary changes in global plate tectonics. This increase in oxygen led to a surge in photosynthesis and oxygen production, allowing a diverse range of animal life to thrive.
A new study found that tropical squid species are unaffected by projected end-of-century CO2 levels, which could lead to an increase in their population. This is surprising given the negative impact of ocean acidification on other marine species.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a high-efficiency catalyst converting CO2 into carbon monoxide, paving the way for recycling fossil fuels' carbon dioxide to preserve resources and limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers discovered that organic carbon is preserved in sediments due to strong chemical bonds with minerals, preventing it from decomposing. This process helps maintain a stable balance of gases in the atmosphere, allowing for oxygen to remain available for human consumption.
Scientists at DGIST have created a new photocatalyst that can convert sunlight into hydrocarbon fuels with improved efficiency. The addition of copper and platinum nanoparticles enhances the catalyst's ability to recycle atmospheric carbon dioxide., Researchers aim to further improve the technology to make it commercially viable.
The University of Copenhagen has opened a new research center, TiPES, to study climate tipping points and develop improved climate models. The center aims to better understand the mechanisms of sudden and violent changes in the climate system, which could trigger dramatic new climatic changes.
Researchers have developed a new chemical process that can turn carbon dioxide into molecular oxygen, a crucial component for human exploration of space and combating climate change. The reaction occurs when CO2 molecules collide with the surface at high speeds, producing oxygen atoms that can be combined to form O2.
A study examines ocean carbon sinks over two decades, finding they may account for 10-40% of atmospheric CO2 buildup. Current carbon cycle models underestimate sensitivity to climate variability, suggesting inaccurate global carbon budget predictions.
A Stanford-led paper proposes converting methane into carbon dioxide as a climate change solution. The process could eliminate one-sixth of all causes of global warming and generate significant profits with a price on carbon emissions. Zeolite, a crystalline material, can act as a sponge to capture methane.
Research found that photosynthesis has increased nearly in constant proportion to rising atmospheric CO2 since the industrial era. Plants are working hard to mitigate climate change by absorbing CO2.
A team of scientists has created a bowl-shaped electrode that efficiently converts CO2 from gas into carbon-based fuels and chemicals. The innovative design addresses two major obstacles in the conversion process, achieving higher conversion efficiency and sensitive detection of molecules.
A new study finds radioactive carbon from nuclear bomb tests has reached the deepest parts of the ocean, contaminating crustaceans' muscle tissues and affecting their longevity. The study suggests human pollution can quickly enter the food web and make its way to the deep ocean.
A University of Oklahoma-led study found that explosive volcanic eruptions were more frequent during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age and helped keep large ice sheets stable by blocking sunlight. The research suggests that lessons from this period can inform strategies to mitigate climate change, including stratospheric aerosol geoengineering.
A new report highlights the urgent need for monitoring and modeling of Arctic permafrost due to rapid collapse, which can lead to catastrophic consequences such as subsidence, flooding, and landslides. The researchers estimate that this abrupt thaw could double the climate feedback associated with permafrost thawing.
A new paper outlines critical mechanisms involved in the ocean carbon cycle, specifically the biological pump. Researchers found that particle injection pumps are a more efficient way of pulling carbon from the surface into the deep waters.
Researchers measured high CO2 concentrations in air blowing out to sea from cities and agricultural areas, including Silicon Valley. This process could add 25 million tons of CO2 to the ocean annually, affecting acidity.
Researchers at KAUST developed a new sensor using fluorinated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that can detect critical gas parameters for human comfort and safety. The MOFs can selectively remove sulfur dioxide from flue gas with high affinity, making them suitable for carbon capture and storage applications.
A new study links a slowdown of the Atlantic Ocean current to a massive buildup of carbon in the deep ocean. This buildup cooled the planet and triggered a series of ice ages that lasted for hundreds of thousands of years. The research suggests that if this current continues to slow, it may not help store carbon emissions.
Researchers successfully isolated a strain of methane-oxidizing soil bacteria that can grow in air and oxidize methane at atmospheric concentrations. The strain also exhibits metabolic flexibility, allowing it to metabolize multiple gases including CO2, N2, O2, CO, and H2.
A team of scientists successfully conducted the first computer simulation that matches ocean floor sediment data on climate evolution over 3 million years. The study reveals that changes in CO2 levels were a main driver of ice ages, and current greenhouse gas emissions are now triggering unprecedented climate change.
A new study proposes using iron powder produced by bacteria to stimulate growth of phytoplankton in the ocean, which can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This approach aims to supplement decreasing carbon emissions and mitigate climate change by fertilizing microscopic ocean plants.
A team of scientists has developed a way to improve the tolerance of industrial oil-producing microalgae to high levels of CO2, allowing them to grow faster and more efficiently in flue gas environments. This breakthrough could have significant implications for carbon fixation, food production, and future space exploration.
Researchers used 3D X-ray imaging to study termite nests, revealing small holes that help regulate temperature, ventilation, and drainage. The unique architecture of the nests provides a model for improving ventilation, temperature control, and drainage systems in buildings.
Researchers found that alpine tundra in Colorado's Front Range emits more CO2 than it captures annually, potentially creating a feedback loop. The study suggests higher-than-expected year-round microbial activity, even without deep insulating snowpack, and may liberate decades-to-centuries-old carbon from the landscape.