Articles tagged with Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
A new study finds that particles in cloudy water layers drift over long distances to be buried at depths of up to 1500 meters, affecting our understanding of carbon burial and climate relationships. This process may have been more vigorous in the past due to fluctuating sea levels.
A recent decrease in Rocky Mountain snowpack has slowed the release of heat-trapping carbon dioxide gases from forest soils into the atmosphere during the dead of winter. The lack of snow has decreased the winter insulation of the soils, cooling them and slowing the metabolism of microbes that release large amounts of CO2.
Researchers found that up to half of Amazon's oldest trees are over 300 years old, with some reaching 1,000 years. This challenges previous studies suggesting the Amazon can absorb more carbon dioxide than predicted.
The study predicts a 8 degree Celsius warming of the planet if all fossil fuels are used by 2300, with severe consequences for polar regions and oceans. The land would experience a drastic change from ice to boreal forests, while oceans would become more acidic and harm marine life.
Researchers have underestimated the organic carbon stored in high Arctic soils, with new findings suggesting up to 8.7 billion metric tons of carbon in the polar semidesert. The study's results are significant as the Arctic warms and permafrost thaws, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.
Researchers found that elevated atmospheric CO2 increases soil carbon by 5.6% over a two to nine year period, with comparable increases in Tennessee deciduous forest and Kansas grassland after five to eight years of experimental exposure to elevated CO2.
A new theoretical model helps explore the fate of CO2 injected into oceans under various temperature and pressure conditions. Liquid CO2 would need to be injected to a depth of at least 800 meters to keep it from escaping, according to Zhang's model.
Researchers found that no-till farming can store up to 868 million tons of carbon in soil, which could help meet the US's goal of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by one-fifth. Climate change affects soil carbon sequestration varying by region, with some areas experiencing increased storage and others reduced.
A worldwide compilation of exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages suggests that prehistoric global warming may have led to the formation of these fossils. The widespread death and burial of animals and their carbon created fossil bonanzas, potentially saving Earth from a heat sterilization event like Venus.
The North Sea efficiently absorbs 8.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually through both physical and photosynthetic processes. This represents 20% of the world's total CO2 uptake, highlighting coastal seas as more efficient absorbers than open oceans.
Researchers have developed a new dating technique using radioactive carbon-14 in tooth enamel, which can accurately determine a person's age at the time of death within 1.6 years. This method can help forensic scientists identify victims of disasters like Hurricane Katrina and narrow down search efforts.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that climate change affects the oceans' ability to store carbon dioxide. The best location for injecting CO2 into the deep ocean changes with climate change, with the Atlantic Ocean proving more effective than other locations.
Researchers used the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) to study the Permian extinction event, which saw 90-95% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species die. The model found that warming ocean waters at higher latitudes due to rising CO2 levels led to a stratified ocean with little oxygen, making it deadly for marine life.
A study by Duke University researchers found that pine trees under elevated CO2 levels experienced increased growth in some years, but not consistently. The findings suggest that pine trees may be able to improve water use efficiency, but the results are mixed and more research is needed.
A new study suggests that continued high levels of fossil fuel emissions will outstrip the land and oceans' ability to absorb carbon, leading to accelerated climate warming. The 'breathing biosphere' can only absorb carbon at a certain rate, and increased temperatures and droughts lower plant uptake of CO2.
Researchers found that Amazonian rivers and wetlands are rapidly releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere, with most recent releases dating back only 5 years. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the storage of carbon in these ecosystems.
Scientists have discovered a connection between ancient climate, carbon dioxide levels, and vegetation in deep sea algae. The study found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were up to five times greater than today during the Paleogene Period, leading to rapid global cooling and the origin of land plants sensitive to CO2.
A team of scientists found that the oceans took tens of thousands of years to recover from a massive carbon dioxide release during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. The study suggests that the recovery time for current fossil fuel emissions could be similar, highlighting the need for urgent action.
Scientists discovered that massive underground coalfields, burned during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, triggered a period of intense global warming and mass extinction. The new research sheds light on the consequences of current carbon-based fuel consumption.
Researchers used advanced supercomputing technology and chemical analysis to reconstruct past sea temperatures, finding that increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere initiated warming. This breakthrough sheds light on how climate may respond to greenhouse gas emissions in the future.
A University of Oregon geologist's analysis suggests that a 'troubled' greenhouse event 55 million years ago may indicate wider climate shifts in Africa, North America, and South America. The study confirms dramatic increases in seasonal contrast and rainfall, with potential implications for modern-day weather patterns.
A team of researchers, led by UCR scientist Michael Allen, investigated the response of a mycorrhizal fungal community to CO2 concentrations over six years. The findings suggest that previous work has overestimated the magnitude of community and ecosystem responses to carbon dioxide changes.
Scientists at Ohio State University have found that a long-ago ice age occurred 10 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery resolves an inconsistency in climate change research and suggests that CO2 concentrations drive climate. Sea levels may have been low globally at the time, likely due to a global ice buildup.
A team of researchers has solved a puzzle in climate research by explaining why micro-organisms break down carbon in soils at varying rates. The new theory predicts that an increase in climate temperatures will lead to more rapid carbon dioxide release and accelerated climate change.
Scientists create a novel polymer, polylimonene carbonate, using limonene oxide and CO2, offering an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. The biodegradable material has characteristics similar to polystyrene, a commonly used plastic.
Researchers discovered a correlation between the deepening of the Pacific Ocean's CCD and global cooling approximately 34 million years ago. The study suggests that prolonged absence of warm summers inhibited summer snow melt, leading to ice sheet growth.
A recent NASA study reveals that tiny particles in the air can have a significant effect on how much carbon is transferred from the atmosphere to below-ground carbon sinks. The research found that aerosols, not clouds, tend to scatter sunlight, allowing more radiation to penetrate to leaves and increasing photosynthesis rates.
Researchers suggest using geological carbon sinks to capture and store carbon dioxide from power plant emissions, providing an additional strategy to reduce greenhouse gases. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached an all-time high of 380 parts per million, a 36% increase since pre-industrial times.
A new study by Northeastern University researcher Kevin G. Harrison found that soil carbon levels increased by an average of 14% under elevated CO2 levels. This discovery has the potential to improve global warming forecast models, which have been hindered by slower-than-expected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Researchers found that oxygen in the atmosphere appeared at least 100 million years before its supposed debut with the carbon cycle perturbation. The discovery suggests a complex process involving mantle plume volcanoes and cyanobacteria, leading to an increase in oxygen levels over millions of years.
Researchers suggest oxygen may have appeared 100 million years before its previously believed debut, based on improved dating and proxy measures. The shift from a reducing to an oxidizing atmosphere is linked to volcanic activity and the production of water vapor and carbon dioxide.
Researchers found that fertilized tundra soils release significantly more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, offsetting any potential storage by plants. The study suggests a greater positive feedback loop to further warming, potentially leading to increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Margaret Torn, a biogeochemist, is honored for her pioneering work on climate change and the terrestrial carbon cycle. Her research has improved regional and global computer climate models with data from the Southern Great Plains site in Oklahoma.
A new study by UC Davis researchers shows that photorespiration, long thought to be a wasteful process, is essential for healthy plant growth and nitrogen uptake. Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and low oxygen levels inhibit nitrate assimilation, leading to slowed plant growth.
The global survey found that about half of anthropogenic CO2 is taken up by the upper 10% of the ocean. Rising CO2 levels may alter marine food webs and diversity, threatening calcifying organisms.
A study suggests that CO2 fertilization may be transferring enough carbon from the atmosphere to the soil to balance the global carbon budget. Kevin Harrison's research found a CO2 fertilization factor of 1.18 for a white oak ecosystem, which could have significant implications for understanding the impact of climate change.
The University of Colorado will build two instruments for a satellite launched in 2006 to study noctilucent clouds. The Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere mission aims to understand changes in cloud brightness and frequency, which may be linked to increasing carbon dioxide levels.
Restoring carbon in degraded agricultural soils can significantly improve crop yields and global food security, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, soil has a finite capacity for holding carbon, and widespread adoption of recommended management practices may reach its limits within 50 years.
Geologists found that the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by continents led to a cooling effect, resulting in the collapse of the early greenhouse. The recycling of carbon through volcanic activity eventually regenerated the greenhouse, leading to a warming of the planet.
A study published in Nature found that thick marine beds of siderite suggest early high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The research suggests that the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was more than 100 times greater than today, causing acidic ocean water and maintaining liquid oceans.
A recent study published in Ecology Letters found that increased atmospheric carbon dioxide can lead to a significant increase in algal productivity, with up to 40% to 50% more growth in nutrient-rich environments. This could result in more severe nuisance blooms, particularly in freshwater and saltwater systems.
Researchers pinpoint CO2 sources, geological and terrestrial sinks, and transport requirements in Virginia. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate global warming by developing technologies for removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Researchers develop new methods to assess carbon uptake in Western mountain forests, which are affected by drought. By combining airborne data with ground-based measurements, scientists can better understand natural processes involved in forest-air carbon exchange.
Phytoplankton, tiny aquatic plants that convert carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, may play a crucial role in regulating Earth's atmosphere. A new study finds that iron fertilization can enhance the uptake of CO2 by phytoplankton, potentially making them more efficient carbon sinks.
Robotic Carbon Explorers tracked fertilized waters with over four-fold plankton growth, contrary to expectations that lack of silicates would limit growth. The study suggests a significant role for iron in fixing carbon dioxide in the ocean.
Researchers at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories have conducted an experiment that revealed iron fertilization can trigger massive phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean. These blooms consume vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which is then potentially removed from the atmosphere, suggesting a potential solution to global warming.
Chemists at PNNL have found that maintaining alkalinity and frequent wetting and drying cycles can increase soil's natural ability to soak up carbon dioxide. This approach could help slow global warming by utilizing the soil's potential reservoir of four times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Researchers found that ocean acidity influences early estimates of carbon dioxide and temperature link, correcting temperature curves to match glacial records. They applied correction factors for changes in acidity, calcium ions, and carbon dioxide saturation, accurately predicting two major glaciations.
A study published in Ecology Letters reveals that aquatic ecosystems process carbon through the basal levels of their food chain significantly faster than terrestrial ecosystems. This means aquatic ecosystems are less capable of retaining carbon, especially under high CO2 conditions.
Research by Richard Norby and colleagues at ORNL found that young trees and green plants respond favorably to elevated CO2 levels, with a 24% increase in net primary productivity. However, the long-term effect of carbon dioxide fertilization on mature trees and soil sequestration is still debated.
Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute are studying the impact of carbon dioxide on the ocean, which could help predict global climate change. The research also explores the potential for iron fertilization to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers found that loblolly pine forests grown in high CO2 conditions exhibit varying growth rates depending on soil moisture. Nitrogen deficiencies limit tree growth in dry years, while excess nitrogen makes a difference in wet years.
Scientists investigate iron fertilization to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by boosting phytoplankton photosynthesis. However, the process is hindered by zooplankton consumption and limited sinking of plant material.
Researchers from NASA and universities worldwide found that El Nino events led to significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions from fires globally. The majority of the increase occurred in Southeast Asia, with other regions like Central and South America also experiencing increased emissions.
Research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Montana observes earlier spring thawing trends across northern high latitudes. This regional change may promote more carbon uptake by vegetation than release into the atmosphere, potentially affecting Earth's climate.
A study by Argonne National Laboratory and Duke University found that the roots of loblolly pine trees can last up to 4.2 years, controlling CO2 absorption in soils. In contrast, sweetgum trees have shorter root lifetimes, leading to faster carbon transfer.
Emerging life played a role in moderating ice ages that resulted in today's moderate climate. Microscopic marine plants and animals that produce calcium carbonate skeletons and shells help regulate aquatic chemistry, controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Researchers have confirmed that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were between 10-200 times higher 1.4 billion years ago than they are today. The discovery provides a geological context for CO2 evolution and climate change.
Researchers discovered previously unknown fungi groups thriving beneath the snow, recycling carbon and nitrogen, and potentially impacting CO2 levels. The findings prompt a reevaluation of snow-covered regions as 'sinks' for CO2.
Researchers analyzed TES observations and found trace amounts of carbonate minerals in Martian dust, indicating a thin atmosphere interacting with dust. The discovery contradicts the idea of past oceans on Mars and suggests a climate history dominated by ice and frozen water.