Articles tagged with Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
A new study finds that geoengineering approaches to mitigate global warming could result in reduced rainfall and snowfall worldwide. The research suggests that these techniques would not only fail to address the root problem of climate change but also have unintended consequences, such as altered regional precipitation patterns.
A Princeton University study found that plants have prevented climate change by absorbing 186 billion to 192 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere since the mid-20th century. This 'carbon sink' has kept global temperatures cooler by one-third of a degree Celsius, preventing catastrophic climate change.
A new study finds that high carbon dioxide levels in the ancient atmosphere may have counteracted the effects of a weak young Sun, allowing life to thrive on Earth. The researchers used tiny air samples trapped in quartz rocks to reconstruct the atmosphere's composition, finding higher-than-expected CO2 levels.
A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters suggests that about half of global warming occurs within the first decade after an instantaneous step increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, while about one-quarter occurs more than a century later. The research brings together results from leading climate models, revealing...
A recent study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics found that atmospheric carbon monoxide levels have been declining in Greenland since the 1970s, despite a global increase in vehicle emissions. The research suggests improvements in combustion technology, such as catalytic converters, may have driven this decline.
Carbon farming schemes can sequester carbon while providing environmental benefits like reduced pollution, erosion, and improved biodiversity. Local participation is key to long-term success, as it leverages local knowledge and draws in more landholders.
Researchers mapped carbon footprints of 434 UK municipalities, finding that lifestyle, education, and household cars significantly impact CO2 emissions. The study reveals the UK's municipalities have high territorial emissions, despite lower overall carbon footprint compared to global production.
Researchers found that extreme weather events like droughts, heat waves, and storms reduce the amount of carbon absorbed by terrestrial ecosystems, equivalent to about a third of global CO2 emissions per year. Satellites and recording stations documented the effects of these events on forests, bogs, and grasslands.
A study finds that seasonal carbon dioxide variations have substantially changed during the last 50 years, with a 50% increase in high latitude regions. This is due to increased carbon emissions from fossil fuels and land-based ecosystems taking deeper breaths.
A new study from Northern Arizona University found that ecosystems have a limited capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, and soil microorganisms play a crucial role in determining carbon storage. The study suggests that widely accepted carbon cycle models overestimate the impact of ecosystems on absorbing carbon.
A new study by Richard Zeebe suggests that amplified and prolonged warming due to unabated fossil fuel burning raises the probability of large ice sheets melting, leading to significant sea level rise. Climate sensitivity may change over time, potentially making future climate change more severe and longer-lasting.
A new computer model developed by a UCI-led team accurately accounts for bacteria and fungi's impact on soil carbon, leading to more reliable forecasts. The model suggests two novel scenarios: soil accumulating or releasing carbon due to microbial growth changes with temperature.
Researchers propose carbon farming as an environmentally friendly method to sequester massive amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. A new study shows that one hectare of Jatropha curcas plants could capture up to 25 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year, making it a competitive alternative to other geoengineering techniques.
Researchers found that year-round ice-free conditions in the Arctic could explain amplified warming during the Pliocene Epoch, with warmer temperatures and reduced seasonal cycles. The study used climate models to simulate the effects of ice-free winters and summers, revealing a possible mechanism for Pliocene warming.
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have successfully created a frozen wave by applying digital processing and laser visualization techniques. This breakthrough allows for the study of waves in motion, improving predictions of wave impact on marine structures and aiding in understanding oceanographic phenomena.
A new study found that tropical ecosystems are extremely sensitive to temperature changes, releasing more carbon dioxide when temperatures rise. This is equivalent to 1/3 of global emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation, making it a critical diagnostic tool for understanding the global carbon cycle.
Forests across the globe are losing less water and becoming more efficient in using it for growth as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise. Scientists found that forests are storing more carbon due to higher growth rates.
A study by researchers found that forests in the northern hemisphere increase their water use efficiency as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations rise, exceeding theoretical expectations. This adaptation helps plants conserve water despite increased photosynthesis, potentially shifting the global water and carbon cycle.
Scientists analyzed long-term data from seven sites in the US and found a substantial increase in water-use efficiency in temperate and boreal forests. This adaptation could enhance timber yields and improve water availability, but may also lead to reduced evapotranspiration and increased continental freshwater runoff.
A Harvard study found that forests across the globe are becoming more efficient in using water, contrary to expectations. The research team used long-term data from over 20 years of eddy covariance measurements to show that forests are storing more carbon and growing faster due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
A global cooling event, similar to recent global warming, occurred 116 million years ago, causing a marine ecosystem crisis and reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. This study highlights the link between global climate and internal earth processes, demonstrating that large-scale changes can have severe consequences for marine life.
A Dartmouth-led study finds that logging can release large amounts of carbon stored in deep forest soils, potentially offsetting the benefits of using wood for energy. The research suggests that increased reliance on forest biomass may actually increase atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Researchers have found that a small portion of the human brain involved in memory makes new neurons well into adulthood, according to data from nuclear weapons testing of the 1950s and '60s. The study supports the importance of investigating the therapeutic potential of adult neurogenesis for age-related cognitive disorders.
A new study found that human activities are increasing the movement of carbon from land to rivers, estuaries, and coastal regions, with a significant fraction stored in aquatic systems. This discovery affects current estimates of carbon storage on land, highlighting the need for accurate assessments of the 'land-ocean aquatic continuum'.
Researchers used carbon-14 dating to determine if adult humans generate new neurons, finding that up to 1,400 new cells are added daily. This neurogenesis may contribute to human brain function and potentially inform depression treatments.
Researchers found tiny bubbles of ancient water in Australian quartz grains with different argon isotope ratios than today. This suggests that the energy from the Sun was not enough to freeze all water on Earth until 2.5 billion years ago, leading to the first ice age.
Experiments show high sinking speed for dead gelatinous plankton species, contributing to the biological pump. Fast sinking provides high-quality food resources for benthic organisms and releases CO2 that can be stored without direct contact with the atmosphere.
Lawrence Livermore scientists have discovered a new technique to remove and store atmospheric carbon dioxide while generating carbon-negative hydrogen. The process uses electrolysis to produce alkaline solution that can neutralize ocean acidification, potentially saving marine ecosystems.
Researchers John Isbell and Erik Gulbranson study ancient climate shifts to understand modern-day drastic climate change. They find evidence of 22 individual ice sheets in Gondwana, suggesting dramatic temperature swings and atmospheric CO2 levels fluctuations.
Scientists used a new lab technique to analyze fossil snail shells, gaining insights into an abrupt climate shift 34 million years ago. The study found a drop of up to 10 C in land temperature and linked atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to surface temperatures.
A new geochemical method has found a link between the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and Earth's surface temperature, suggesting that the planet is inextricably linked. The study uses a recently developed technique to measure the change in terrestrial temperature associated with a shift in global atmospheric CO2 concentrat...
A type of marine algae, Emiliania huxleyi, has been found to be resilient to ocean acidification under high CO2 levels. Although cells grew more slowly under the high CO2 scenario, they did not dissolve away and possessed more calcite, suggesting some ability to tolerate future CO2 scenarios.
A new study suggests that carbon dioxide removal can alleviate the most costly components of climate change mitigation, allowing for more flexible emissions control. The study found that bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (CCS) could halve aggregate mitigation costs over the 21st century if available.
A multi-author review paper reviews ocean nutrient patterns and interactions, highlighting their influence on climate by fuelling biological production. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding nutrient cycles in predicting future environmental changes.
Researchers discovered that iron carbonyl is the main form of carbon trapped in magmas on Mars, releasing carbon monoxide and methane gases. This finding suggests that early Mars' volcanism could have released enough greenhouse gases to warm the planet significantly.
The article discusses various geology topics, including the use of ancient lava-fed deltas to estimate paleo-water levels and past ice thicknesses. It also explores the formation of bubbles in volcanic conduits and the presence of iron-silicate microgranules in banded iron formations.
Researchers at UGA have created a microorganism that can absorb CO2 and generate useful industrial products, including fuel. This discovery could lead to the creation of carbon-neutral fuels from atmospheric CO2, a cleaner alternative to gasoline, coal, and oil.
Researchers found evidence of a unique post-glacial world, revealing life's remarkable ability to restore balance after a global glaciation. The study estimates the Marinoan Oxygen-17 Depletion event lasted 0-1 million years, suggesting an ultra-high carbon dioxide atmosphere following the Snowball Earth glaciation.
Researchers propose bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar as solutions to achieve net-negative emissions. BECCS captures CO2 emissions from power plants, while biochar uses pyrolysis to produce a fertilizer that absorbs atmospheric CO2.
A recent study found that Arctic permafrost's ancient carbon is released into the atmosphere at a rate 40% faster than previously thought when exposed to sunlight. Sunlight increases bacterial conversion of carbon into carbon dioxide, which accelerates climate warming.
A new study led by Rice University suggests that episodic flare-ups of volcanoes at key locations could be driving Earth's repeated flip-flopping between greenhouse and icehouse states. The researchers found that these continental-arc volcanoes release enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, which drives the climate cycles.
Experts at Newcastle University have discovered a way to convert CO2 into harmless calcium or magnesium carbonate using Nickel nanoparticles. This process has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from industries such as power stations and chemical processing plants.
A new protocol has been developed to measure soil organic carbon sequestration more accurately. The protocol considers the impact of tillage practices on soil organic carbon storage and loss over time.
A new tool devised by Berkeley Lab scientists detects forest mortality patterns and trends using satellite images, simulation modeling, and fieldwork. The study found that 9.1 to 16.9 percent of tree mortality was missing from conventional analyses, equating to over half a million dead trees per year.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of dissolving particles in ocean surfaces to increase marine uptake of carbon dioxide. The researchers find that this approach would only compensate for around 9% of present-day anthropogenic CO2 emissions, highlighting its inefficiency.
The average global temperature in 2012 was 58.3 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.0 F warmer than the mid-20th century baseline, continuing a long-term trend of rising global temperatures.
Researchers found a strong rise in sea level for CO2 increase from 180 to 400 parts per million, peaking at present-day values. For future climate stabilization at 400-450 parts per million, sea level is set to steadily rise for many centuries.
A team of ecologists has developed a method to calculate how much CO2 deciduous trees soak up using seasonal changes in forest colour captured in digital photographs. The results showed that digital cameras can be an important aid in monitoring forests and tracking climate change effects.
Eight new research projects receive funding from Carbon Management Canada to develop technologies for reducing CO2 emissions in industries such as cement and power generation. These projects will focus on innovative solutions for capturing, storing, and utilizing CO2, including sensor technology and carbon mineralization methods.
Scientists will investigate connections between soil microorganisms and the carbon cycle, with potential implications for global warming. The project aims to understand how changes in soil carbon levels trigger chain reactions that convert stable carbon into atmospheric CO2.
A new study reveals that a significant amount of carbon released into lakes and rivers is very old, approximately 1,000 to 3,000 years old. This finding challenges the current models of long-term carbon storage in lakes and rivers, suggesting a significant lag in the coupling between terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Researchers have identified thousands of individual components in dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater using ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. This allows them to infer information about the water's past, including its age, exposure to sunlight, and even which marine life once inhabited it.
Researchers predict that salt marshes can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, potentially slowing climate change. However, the ecosystems can only survive moderate rates of sea-level rise and may not be able to mitigate warming at high levels.
Recent GSA Bulletin articles discuss tectonics, mineral formation, the Moho, age dating using zircon crystals, atmospheric CO2, and early animal evolution. Slow faults in Spain produce large earthquakes with thousand-year recurrence periods.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Research have made significant breakthroughs in producing oil from algae, a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The team aims to combine the slow-growing traits of Botryococcus braunii with faster-growing alga species to create a high-yielding oil producer.
Underground organisms like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a dual role in soil carbon sequestration, both storing and releasing carbon as atmospheric carbon levels rise. The study challenges assumptions about their protective effects on organic carbon.
A new study provides unprecedented detail on the history of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) in the Pacific Ocean over the past 55 million years. The CCD, which fluctuates with climate change, reveals five intervals of fluctuation during the 'greenhouse' world and at least four major excursions in the last 20 million years.
Scientists have discovered a tropical climate in Antarctica 52 million years ago, where palms and relatives of today's Baobab trees thrived on the coast. This finding highlights the extreme contrast between modern and past climatic conditions on Antarctica and provides valuable insights into global warming.
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.
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.