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NUS-led study considers potential and constraints of reforestation for climate mitigation

A recent study led by NUS researchers found that financial, land-use, and operational constraints can limit the climate mitigation potential of reforestation in Southeast Asia. The study estimated that 121 million hectares of land are suitable for reforestation, but only a fraction may be achievable due to these constraints.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Climate Change·DateAug 18, 2020

North American cold-climate forests are already absorbing less carbon, study shows

A new study reveals that cold-climate forests at high latitudes are already absorbing less carbon, casting uncertainty on their ability to continue doing so. In contrast, Siberian forests have increased their carbon uptake four times more than other North American forests, suggesting stark divergent responses across regions.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2020

Mysterious climate change

A recent study found that seasonal sea ice growth and destruction increased biological productivity in the Southern Ocean, extracting carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the deep ocean. This process helps explain a long-standing question about a 1,900-year pause in CO2 growth during the Antarctic Cold Reversal.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 22, 2020

A carbon sink shrinks in the arctic

The Arctic Ocean's capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has decreased due to rapid warming and sea-ice loss. This reduction will have significant implications for climate change, with the Canada Basin predicted to become a minimal carbon sink by 2030.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJun 15, 2020

Tracking fossil fuel emissions with carbon-14

Researchers estimate national fossil-fuel-derived CO2 emissions by observing carbon-14 in air samples. The new method uses a model of atmospheric transport to disentangle CO2 variations from natural sources, providing an independent and objective estimate.

SourceNOAA Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

Measuring climate change

Researchers have identified similarities and differences in ocean acidification on both coasts of North America, with the east coast experiencing a near-equilibrium pattern and the west coast showing enhanced acidification due to upwelling. The study highlights vulnerable hot spots, particularly in northern waters where rising carbon d...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 1, 2020

NAU's Vulcan Project fossil fuel emissions show best match to carbon-14 measurements

The study found that NAU's Vulcan Project emissions estimate is the closest match to the new atmospheric-based approach, with an accuracy of 1.5%. The integrated approach combines multiple data sources, including local pollution reporting and fuel statistics, to provide a more detailed and accurate picture of US fossil fuel emissions.

SourceNorthern Arizona University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

Climate could cause abrupt British vegetation changes

Research by the University of Exeter suggests that climate change could lead to sudden changes in British vegetation, particularly in regions with warmer and wetter conditions. This increase in plant growth is expected due to factors such as CO2 fertilization, but soil drying out can also cause rapid decreases in vegetation productivity.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateMay 28, 2020

The best things come in small packages

A miniaturized carbon dioxide monitoring instrument based on non-dispersive infrared technology has been developed to observe carbon dioxide concentrations in the boundary layer. The instrument provided consistent results with conventional gas chromatography analyzers and revealed that CO2 concentration decreases with increasing altitude.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateApr 21, 2020

Study reveals grasshopper declines associated with declines in quality of prairie grasses

A University of Oklahoma-led study reveals a decline in grasshopper numbers over the past two decades in a Kansas grassland preserve. The research identifies nutrient dilution as a key driver, caused by increased atmospheric CO2 levels, leading to declining plant quality and reduced sustenance for herbivores.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 10, 2020