Articles tagged with Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
A new study found that global warming can increase soil moisture in grasslands by up to 10% due to plant death and subsequent water retention. Researchers at Stanford University discovered this unexpected outcome despite climate models predicting drier conditions.
A Weizmann Institute study found that the Yatir forest is expanding rapidly into the Negev Desert, absorbing more carbon dioxide than expected. This could be due to the increased availability of carbon dioxide, which eases plants' water loss dilemma, allowing forests to grow in areas previously too dry.
Research shows that fire frequency impacts the ability of forests to store carbon, with younger stands storing less carbon than older ones. Forests dominated by rapidly growing aspen trees tend to store more carbon than those with slower-growing black spruce and jack pine trees.
Climate change projections indicate an increase in heavy precipitation and extreme events in California's Sierra Nevada region, with a 37% rise in wet days per year. This could lead to more flooding due to the shift from snowfall to rainfall, reducing the buffering effects of snow.
A UMass study suggests that greenhouse gases were the primary driver behind the rapid formation of Antarctica's ice sheet, contradicting a long-held theory on plate tectonics. The researchers used computer simulations to recreate the world 34 million years ago and found that a drop in carbon dioxide levels triggered the glaciation.
Phytoplankton, especially diatoms with silicon, play a crucial role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, warmer ocean temperatures hinder this process, creating a global warming Catch-22.
Researchers at Stanford University conducted a three-year experiment, raising questions about the impact of elevated CO2 on plant growth. The study found that CO2 suppression was most pronounced when combined with other climate change factors like temperature, precipitation, and nitrogen deposition.
Climate change affects ocean's sequestration capacity, with the Atlantic Ocean proving more effective at storing carbon dioxide. The impact is most pronounced in the Atlantic, where rising sea surface temperatures slow down thermohaline circulation and reduce mixing, exacerbating the problem.
Scientists propose that a shift from carbon dioxide to methane in the greenhouse world may have triggered the emergence of complex life forms. Methane, which takes less energy to maintain than carbon dioxide, led to a drop in CO2 levels and the rise of oxygenic photosynthesis.
Iron fertilization of phytoplankton could lead to changes in atmospheric composition and climate, potentially offsetting CO2 removal benefits. This may also result in significant warming of ocean surface waters, affecting oceanic circulation and the climate.
A meta-analysis by Ohio State University researchers found that higher CO2 levels increase crop yields, but decrease the nutritional value of crops. While plants grown in high-CO2 conditions produce more seeds and individual seed weight, they contain less nitrogen.
Researchers found diatoms use glass to facilitate photosynthesis, which benefits the planet by reducing carbon dioxide levels. This discovery links carbon cycles and silicon chemistry, providing insights into historical climate variations and greenhouse gas emissions.
Purdue researchers are working on a $1 million project to control carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by using U.S. farmland. The goal is to trap plant residue carbon in soil and reduce the country's annual contribution to carbon dioxide, which could offset up to 20% of projected emissions.
A new NASA study suggests that changes in rainfall patterns play a significant role in plant growth and carbon absorption in the United States. The research found that higher humidity combined with increased precipitation led to a 14% increase in plant growth between 1950 and 1993.
New ice core samples reveal human activities account for approximately 25% of modern carbonyl sulfide in the atmosphere. Researchers can now develop a baseline to measure the effect of human activity on atmospheric carbonyl sulfide and sulfate aerosols.
A study led by Duke University ecologist Robert Jackson found that soil nitrogen availability constrains the capacity of ecosystems to absorb increased atmospheric CO2. The research suggests that natural systems will no longer be able to take up excess carbon dioxide, emphasizing the need for stringent emissions controls.
Keeling's 45-year curve of atmospheric carbon dioxide, known as the 'Keeling curve,' has been a crucial dataset in understanding global climate change. His work has also shown that the oceans play a significant role in modulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Researchers have developed a new technique to track the health of marshes in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, revealing widespread degradation due to sea level rise. The study suggests that up to 70% of marshland has been affected, with implications for coastal ecosystems and the North American carbon budget.
Climate models predict significant temperature increases and sea level rise over the next century. The effects of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels will last for at least 100 years, regardless of current reductions.
A new study finds that global warming will increase the length of the day by 0.11 seconds over the century due to changes in Earth's angular momentum. The effect is expected to be small and difficult to distinguish from natural variations, but measurable on a decade scale.
Researchers found that elevated carbon dioxide levels hinder nitrate assimilation in plants, leading to reduced protein content and increased risk of malnutrition. The study suggests a shift from nitrate to ammonium fertilizers may be necessary to maintain crop yields under high CO2 conditions.
Researchers used a dynamic global ecosystem model to simulate the response of vegetation to engineered climate conditions, finding a decrease in biomass production in tropical forests and boreal forests but an increase in mid-latitudes.
Large volcanic eruptions, such as Mount Pinatubo's 1992 eruption, trigger a response in plant ecosystems where they become more efficient at drawing carbon dioxide out of the air. This process is thought to be triggered by reduced direct sunlight allowing plants to photosynthesize more efficiently.
A decade-long study suggests forest management can influence carbon uptake, but factors such as tree species and age confound the process. The researchers' findings validate a new method for measuring carbon dioxide levels, highlighting the need for careful consideration of forest management strategies.
A new study by top carbon scientists reveals that terrestrial carbon sinks will not operate steadily into the future due to the temporary nature of key processes. The sinks, which currently absorb excess carbon dioxide, are expected to diminish with time as forests mature and other factors saturate.
Researcher David Tilman's study found that mixing multiple plant species leads to higher productivity, as each species brings unique traits for resource utilization. This principle can benefit various ecosystems, including forests and fisheries, by promoting a more diverse range of organisms.
Ocean fertilization could remove carbon from the atmosphere but poses risks to global oceans. MIT prof Sallie Chisholm argues that large-scale implementation is not a solution to climate change.
A new gene study reveals that early land plants and fungi evolved much earlier than thought, around 700-1300 million years ago. These organisms likely played a crucial role in changing the Earth's climate by increasing oxygen levels and decreasing carbon dioxide.
Antarctica's Weddell Polynya forms due to a horizontal cyclonic eddy spinning off Maud Rise, affecting global ocean circulation and carbon cycle. The study aims to improve understanding of natural mechanisms driving polar ice cap changes.
Recent study by Princeton University scientists reveals that reforestation of former farmland has played a crucial role in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The finding highlights the importance of historical land-use changes in understanding carbon uptake in North American forests.
Scientists at Virginia Tech have discovered a crucial mechanism behind the growth of calcium carbonate crystals, which help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The research could lead to novel materials with unique properties for medical and high-tech applications.
Scientists at Rutgers University have found that humans have significantly altered the global carbon cycle over the past 200 years, leading to a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. The study's authors caution that governments must adopt new technologies to mitigate this trend and prevent unforeseen consequences for the Earth system.
Boston College scientist Kevin G. Harrison proposes the Silica Hypothesis, which suggests that increasing ocean silica levels can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, slowing global warming. This mechanism may be responsible for decreased atmospheric CO2 levels during glacial times and could be relevant to today's climate change.
Research suggests that rising CO2 levels may cause a 40% reduction in coral reef growth over the next 65 years. The team found no evidence of acclimation to reduced carbonate levels, highlighting the negative impact on coral reefs. This finding has significant implications for the increasing vulnerability of many reefs to other stressors.
A new study reveals El Niño dramatically reduced carbon dioxide normally released by the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while also causing extreme biological effects. The research uses data from buoys, ships, and space instruments to monitor ocean productivity and CO2 levels.
A four-decade study of a Southeastern forest found that while trees take up substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the accumulation in soils is relatively slow. The researchers used radioactive Carbon-14 as a tracer to estimate carbon sequestration and found that only a small percentage of carbon was retained in topsoil, wi...
A recent study found that Duke Forest plots experienced a 25% growth increase over two years under high carbon-dioxide conditions. This suggests that forests could serve as a significant carbon sink, potentially offsetting half of the world's expected carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion.
Researchers from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Stanford University conducted experiments on liquid CO2 disposal in the deep ocean. The results show that liquid CO2 can react with seawater to form clathrate hydrate, expanding in volume and causing it to rise towards the surface.
An international team of scientists, led by Colorado State University's Scott Denning, aims to resolve the mystery of the 'missing sink' that absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The TransCom3 project will use advanced modeling techniques and data analysis to narrow down the location and mechanisms of this natural process.
To stabilize atmospheric CO2 content at twice pre-industrial levels, non-fossil energy generation must increase from 15% to 50% of global power generation by 2050. This requires a massive transition in the global energy system, equivalent to a 150% increase in current total energy production.
A team of scientists from Columbia University and Princeton University have found that North America is absorbing carbon dioxide at a rate greater than expected, with forest regrowth playing a significant role. The study suggests that land-based carbon-absorbing zones could play a crucial role in managing greenhouse warming.
A Florida biologist found that subtle increases in CO2 can kill mining moths by reducing the nutritional value of their food. Many more larvae died in chambers with high CO2 levels, likely due to malnutrition caused by lower nitrogen content.
Scientists study the feedbacks between vegetation and climate using computer models to predict future climate changes. The study found that forests create warmer temperatures in subarctic regions, affecting local ecosystems.
A conference of 800 environmental scientists explores whether terrestrial ecosystems can slow down climate change by absorbing CO2. Recent technological developments, such as Free Air CO2 Enrichment technology, improve our ability to study carbon storage at the ecosystem level.
A new study published in Science by a team led by University of Wisconsin-Madison geochemist John W. Valley reveals low-temperature origin for the carbonate globules found within the meteorite ALH84001, lending powerful support to the notion that features of the meteorite may have been formed by living organisms.
Research by University of Georgia forester Dr. Bob Teskey and colleagues found that managed timber stands can benefit from higher CO2 levels due to improved photosynthesis. The study's results suggest pine trees are better adapted to increased CO2, with positive responses from other species as well.
Researchers discover large areas of non-volcanic carbon dioxide vents in Italy, contributing significantly to atmospheric CO2 levels. The 200-mile area between Florence and Naples produces an enormous amount of carbon dioxide, but its measurement has never been attempted before.
A Duke University study suggests that plants may shunt excess atmospheric carbon dioxide into groundwater to remain stored away for thousands of years. This could help solve the mystery of missing CO2 in the atmosphere and potentially lower predicted impacts of global warming.