Articles tagged with Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
A geochemist raised concerns about the efficiency of carbon storage projects by highlighting the impact of underground chemical reactions on mineral dissolution. Research is needed to analyze reaction rates and affected minerals for better carbon storage project evaluation.
A new report found that high-yield crop varieties developed during the Green Revolution have helped keep greenhouse gas emissions at bay, avoiding nearly 600 billion tons of CO2. The study estimated that agricultural research has averted carbon dioxide emissions at a cost of about $4 per ton of CO2.
High-yield agriculture has prevented massive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 590 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. The research estimates that yield improvements reduced the need to convert forests to farmland, a process that generates significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found a massive carbon dioxide 'burp' occurred 18,000 years ago, locking away CO2 in the deep ocean during the last ice age. This discovery supports the theory that ocean circulation played a significant role in triggering global warming during ice ages.
By studying fossil plant remains, scientists can gain insights into past temperatures and environmental conditions. The researchers found that water availability and plant type significantly impact the exchange of carbon isotopes between plants and the atmosphere.
A new study by Carnegie Institution researchers found that CO2's direct effect on plants contributes to global warming, with evapotranspiration effects accounting for 16% of land surface warming globally. High carbon dioxide levels can lead to increased runoff and stronger climate predictions require considering plant responses.
Researchers found that microbes become less efficient in converting carbon into CO2, leading to decreased carbon dioxide emissions from soils. As warmer temperatures persist, microbes decrease in number and eventually result in fewer emissions.
Researchers found that microbes become less efficient at converting carbon in soil into atmospheric CO2 as global temperatures rise, leading to reduced emissions. The study suggests that microbial efficiency decline may mitigate climate warming effects.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that soil microbes release decreasing amounts of climate-warming greenhouse gases as they overheat and grow more slowly
Scientists found that ancient rocks from Greenland show evidence of a vast global ocean keeping water wet despite low solar energy. The team proposes that oceans absorb more sunlight due to their darker color and cloud formation, eliminating the need for high greenhouse gas levels.
Researchers develop a method to determine wine vintages using radioactive carbon dioxide produced by atomic bomb tests. The technique uses accelerator mass spectrometry to analyze the carbon-14 levels in wine alcohol, allowing for reliable detection of vintage authenticity.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are studying how increasing carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures may impact atmospheric blocking, a rare but significant weather event. They aim to improve forecasting accuracy by identifying cues that can warn people of long-lasting, severe weather.
A new study suggests that pumping nutrient-rich water to boost algal growth and draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere may not be an effective solution to combat global warming. The simulation results show modest climatic benefits, with potential risks of exacerbating global warming if the scheme fails.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that forests in the Eastern United States are growing at an accelerated rate of 2 tons per acre annually. This growth is attributed to rising CO2 levels, increased temperatures, and longer growing seasons. The findings suggest a significant response of ecosystems to climate change.
A new Yale University study suggests that current CO2 levels could lead to a greater temperature increase than previously thought, with temperatures potentially rising by 3 degrees Celsius or more. The research found that a relatively small rise in atmospheric CO2 was associated with substantial global warming during the mid- and early...
Researchers found that small increases in carbon dioxide led to substantial global warming about 4.5 million years ago. Slow changes in ice sheets and other factors amplify the effects of greenhouse gas composition.
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that the climate may be 30-50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide than previously thought. This increased sensitivity could lead to more accurate long-term projections and a better understanding of climate change's impacts on global temperatures.
The study documents spatial and temporal distributions of atmospheric CO2 over China, with varying levels of human activity influence. Long-term observations show changes in CO2 mixing ratios at multiple sites, shedding light on carbon source and sink distribution.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that the Earth's temperature is more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide than previously estimated. The research found that including factors like land-ice and vegetation in climate models increases the temperature response to carbon dioxide, indicating a higher sensitivity.
A new study finds that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide has boosted aspen growth rates by 50% in natural stands of quaking aspen. The accelerated growth could have widespread ecological consequences, particularly for slower-growing plant species.
Researchers from the University of Valladolid have measured CO2 levels in a rural area near Valladolid, finding significant increases between 2002 and 2005. The study reveals an annual increase of 3 ppm, highlighting the impact of emissions and atmospheric conditions on carbon dioxide levels.
Scientists developed a new method to measure ocean CO2 uptake, mapping it for the entire North Atlantic. This improvement enables more accurate predictions of global climate change and potentially leads to an 'early warning system' for climate change signals.
In a surprising finding, some marine organisms like crabs, shrimp, and lobsters build more shells when exposed to ocean acidification caused by elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This may be due to the increased availability of dissolved inorganic carbon, which is beneficial for their skeleton formation.
Global CO2 emissions increased by 29% since 2000, with a tripling of annual growth rate compared to the 1990s. The report attributes the rise to increasing production and trade of manufactured products, shifting from oil to coal.
A Yale geophysicist has found that the world's oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide over the past 50 years. This reduced absorption rate could lead to faster climate change due to a longer lag time between temperature fluctuations and CO2 level changes.
Scientists confirm ultra-thin coating of carbon on neutron star using Chandra's X-ray spectrum and theoretical models. The discovery resolves a ten-year mystery surrounding the object, explaining its lack of pulsations.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that giant volcanoes played a pivotal role in an ancient ice age and mass extinction. The volcanoes released massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global warming before stopping, which led to the ice age.
A new study estimates that Arctic lands and oceans are responsible for up to 25 percent of the global net sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Arctic's potential to alter Earth's climate is significant, as current predictions suggest it could be diminished or reversed under global warming, potentially accelerating climate change.
The Arctic has been a carbon sink since the last Ice Age, but rapid climate change could eliminate it. Warmer temperatures and permafrost thawing could release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.
Researchers analyzed ancient air bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice to determine the composition of Earth's atmosphere 20 million years ago. They found that carbon dioxide levels were similar to today's only during this time period, when global temperatures were 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit higher and sea levels were 75-120 feet higher.
A team of scientists has confirmed a major link between declining CO2 levels and the formation of Antarctica's ice caps. The study found that atmospheric CO2 levels reached a tipping point of around 760 parts per million when the Antarctic ice sheet began to form.
The University of Miami has been awarded $1.7 million by the Department of Energy to research carbon sequestration, a method that stores CO2 in geological reservoirs to combat global warming. The team will use state-of-the-art geophysical and geochemical techniques to monitor the reservoirs and ensure safe storage.
Current international strategies overlook the role of inland waters in carbon cycling, but a new study highlights their disproportionate impact. The study suggests that rivers and lakes can alter the fate of terrestrial carbon, leading to significant changes in global carbon budgets.
Researchers found that diatoms, a type of phytoplankton, host nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, contradicting previous assumptions that blue-green algae were the primary drivers. The study reveals an important mechanism for regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate.
Recent methane discoveries on Mars suggest either biological or geological activity, with scientists investigating its disappearance after initial detection in 2003. The source of the methane remains unknown, but theories include surface trapping and chemical reactions.
New research suggests geoengineering techniques may cause more harm than good due to uncertainties in their effects on Earth's natural cycles. Ecologists debate the viability of geoengineering methods like atmospheric seeding and ocean fertilization, highlighting potential risks such as ozone depletion and dead zones in oceans.
Researchers studied an ancient global warming episode, known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, which occurred 55 million years ago. They found that the estimated amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during this event was less than previously thought, suggesting that other mechanisms contributed to the warming.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that scientists' best predictions about global warming may be inaccurate. Researchers analyzed records from the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), a 55-million-year-old period of rapid global warming, and found that climate models can only explain half of the observed heating. ...
A recent study found that climate change models may underestimate the impact of changing atmospheric chemistry on water runoff. The researchers discovered that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and ozone in the atmosphere and nitrogen in the soil can lead to a 17% increase in forest runoff in eastern US forests.
Researchers at Yale University found that land plants stabilized atmospheric CO2 levels, preventing a deep frozen fate. This discovery supports the emerging view that plants should be recognized as a geologic force of nature, with important consequences for all life on Earth.
Researchers found that plants played a critical role in maintaining stable carbon dioxide levels during the last ice age, preventing runaway 'icehouse' conditions. The team's discovery highlights the importance of plant buffering agents in controlling atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Researchers reconstructed CO2 levels over the past 2.1 million years, revealing that today's levels are 38% higher than the highest recorded levels in history. The study confirms that warmer intervals coincided with higher carbon dioxide levels, shedding new light on the earth's cycles of cooling and warming.
Researchers propose reducing atmospheric pressure to extend Earth's lifespan by 1.3 billion years, doubling the chances of finding intelligent life elsewhere. This mechanism could occur on any extrasolar planet with an atmosphere and biosphere.
A new hybrid of the American chestnut tree has been developed that can sequester more carbon than other hardwood species. The trees grow faster and larger, allowing them to store more carbon in a shorter amount of time, which could help slow climate change.
Scientists have discovered that high CO2 levels are causing ocean acidification, leading to reduced shell growth and calcification in shellfish. Eastern oysters are particularly susceptible, with a 16% decrease in shell area and 42% reduction in calcium content.
A recent study by NIST and USDA found that trees shading west and south sides of houses decrease summer electricity use, with fast-growing trees providing more benefit. London plane trees can reduce carbon emissions from electricity by up to 31% over 100 years.
Scientists discover carbon-based lavas are sourced from the upper mantle through partial melting of typical minerals, producing extremely fluid and low-silica lavas. The study reveals a uniform reservoir of volcanic gases beneath both oceans and continents.
A NASA study estimates that climate change fuels Asian wildfires, increasing carbon dioxide emissions by a factor of 10 during dry El Niño years. The research used satellite data and computer models to analyze the impact of drought on fire spread and intensity in regions like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Calculations suggest low-oxygen dead zones in the ocean will expand significantly over the next century. Marine animals will need more oxygen to survive as carbon dioxide levels increase, exacerbating the effects of 'dead zones'.
Researchers found that temperate forests in eastern North America can store more carbon than previously believed, with potential to accumulate up to two-fold higher than current estimates. The study suggests that forest management practices may be more important than intrinsic limits on carbon storage.
A team of scientists suggests that shifting winds in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica may have triggered a rapid increase in carbon dioxide levels at the end of the last ice age. This mechanism could amplify manmade warming and has been supported by sediment core analysis, but other climate models disagree.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide could lead to coral reef dissolution as acidification and rising temperatures threaten global coral health. Research models predict that if CO2 levels double, most coral reefs will experience significant calcification rate reductions.
Researchers discovered that African forests are increasing in tree carbon stocks by an amount equal to the weight of a small car each year. This suggests that extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be acting as fertilizer, but other factors like human occupation and past disturbance may also be at play.
Researchers used bimonthly CO2 measurements from 16 aircraft sites to create a monthly 3D picture of CO2 over North America. They found moderate CO2 sink areas, especially in the Midwest and Southeast, which agree with estimates of crop uptake and forest regrowth.
A University of Michigan researcher has developed a method to reconcile data on greenhouse gas sources and sinks, improving the accuracy of climate predictions. By analyzing atmospheric sampling locations and satellite data, she aims to predict how carbon levels will evolve in the future.
Recent studies suggest that global warming could accelerate at a faster pace, leading to more environmental damage and releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gas. IPCC scientist Chris Field warns of the potential for catastrophic consequences, including devastating wildfires in tropical forests and permafrost thawing.
Research shows that putting a price on carbon dioxide emitted by different land use practices can significantly change how land is used. The study found that addressing the land-based carbon is essential for stabilizing greenhouse gases at low levels.
A study published in Geophysical Research Letters proposes that reducing global fossil fuel use by 20% in 2020 and 60% in 2050 could postpone the onset of the next ice age by up to 170,000 years. By building up ice sheets, scientists can regulate climate and extend current interglacial periods.
Researchers found that elevated CO2 levels stimulate plant respiration, increasing energy production and potentially supporting greater crop yields. The study used microarrays to detect changes in gene activity, revealing over 600 genes altered by high CO2 conditions.
Scientists embark on three-year project to measure carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases worldwide, shedding light on their distribution and impact on climate change. The research will enable better predictions of greenhouse gas emissions and inform society's decisions about climate change mitigation.