Articles tagged with Biogeochemistry
A research team uncovered a specific kill mechanism responsible for several biotic disruptions during the late Devonian Period. The discovery linked sea level changes, climate fluctuations, and ocean chemistry to mass extinctions, with implications for today's oceans affected by global warming.
Researchers found that mineral-organic carbon preservation slowed down decomposition, allowing atmospheric oxygen levels to increase unhindered. This process enabled complex life forms to evolve and ultimately led to the development of intelligent life on Earth.
A new study reveals that moose can reduce carbon storage in clearcut sites equivalent to 60% of annual fossil fuel carbon emissions from a region. Moose consumption of biomass daily during summer represents 10% of what the Norwegian forest industry itself harvests, leading to increased carbon emissions.
Researchers found that rusty center pivots indicate a lack of nitrate in the groundwater they feed. In fact, most wells supplying full-rust and part-rust pivots had nitrate concentrations below the EPA's safety threshold. However, some part-rust pivots showed higher nitrate levels, highlighting the need for further investigation.
Researchers developed an AI-based model that combines artificial intelligence and weather forecast models to predict extreme wildfire danger with high accuracy. The new method can produce forecasts of extreme fire danger out to one week at finer scales (4km x 4km resolution), increasing its utility for fire suppression and management.
The Arabian Gulf's seasonal near-bottom hypoxic zone has expanded by over 50% since the 1980s, persisting for several months each year. This decline in oxygen concentrations threatens regional fisheries and marine biodiversity.
A major new study is investigating the effects of beavers on the Arctic landscape, other animals, and local Indigenous communities. The project aims to understand the complex interlinkages between ecological and sociological changes as beaver numbers increase.
Researchers study the sea-surface microlayer, a biogeochemical reactor where organisms adapt to harsh conditions like UV radiation and fluctuating temperatures. The team aims to understand biological, chemical, and physical interactions in this thin layer, influencing global climate.
Researchers monitored mercury levels in artificial lakes to identify sources and factors affecting concentration. Most mercury originated from soil in catchment areas, with surface runoff contributing in shorter-residence time reservoirs.
Jeanine Ash is part of a US effort to recover sediment cores from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which will help answer questions about sea level rise and global warming. The team aims to drill through up to 1,000 feet of ice in two places on the Ross Ice Shelf.
A team of scientists from the University of East Anglia has developed a new method to estimate regional fossil fuel CO2 emissions more accurately and in near real-time. Using atmospheric measurements of O2 and CO2, they can detect changes in emissions with higher frequency and provide valuable insights for climate change policies.
Researchers developed an estimation strategy to maximize accuracy while minimizing cost of soil carbon sampling, leveraging publicly available data. The new approach reduces the number of samples needed by up to 28% compared to random selection.
Scientists propose a new mechanism by which oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere, shifting the planet out of its low-oxygen equilibrium. Interactions between certain marine microbes and minerals in ocean sediments may have prevented oxygen consumption, setting off a self-amplifying process.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered a single relationship explaining the massive efficiency differences in extracellular electron shuttles. The study found that the transfer of the first electron from the shuttle to iron oxide determines the iron reduction rate, shedding light on a critical step in microbial respiration.
Tropical seagrass meadows may not be as effective in absorbing carbon dioxide as previously believed. According to a new study, some of these ecosystems actually release more CO2 into the atmosphere than they store. This finding is significant for accurately calculating their climate protection potential.
A new study found that heat and antibiotics alone and in combination degrade soil microbe efficiency, resilience, and ability to trap carbon. This could diminish soils' resilience to future stress and exacerbate climate change effects.
A new Stanford University study suggests that rising oxygen levels may have slowed down ancient ocean extinctions. The research found that oxygen levels beyond 40% of present atmospheric levels expanded viable ocean habitat and reduced extinction rates. This discovery has implications for understanding the fate of ocean creatures in to...
The Dartmouth Engineering team will conduct research on planetary science relating to icy planets' geophysics and astrobiology, aiming to understand the nature of these worlds and their habitability. The project will provide valuable tools for interpreting measurements taken by future missions.
Trees continue to form reserves even during long periods of starvation, contrary to the assumption that they only form when photosynthetic conditions are favorable. As CO2 starvation progresses, trees stabilize their reserve levels and divert resources to storage, allowing them to survive climate extremes.
Researchers found that electrochemical disinfection creates numerous 'disinfection by-products', which can have unknown environmental impacts. Alternative methods like filtration or adsorption are recommended to prevent the transfer of harmful organisms.
A new study calculates the environmental cost of a ton of mountaintop coal, finding that it pollutes 2,300km of Appalachian streams and loses 193g of carbon sequestration potential. This translates to a staggering 5,000 years for reclaimed mine land to capture equivalent CO2.
A Kansas State University scientist is investigating the reaction and transport of tungsten in drinking water, a contaminant linked to childhood leukemia cases. The study aims to understand tungsten's biogeochemistry in the environment, which is essential for addressing potential health risks.
Researchers discovered that whale falls create persistent chemosynthetic habitats in surrounding sediment for over seven years. These habitats are comparable to those found at deep-sea cold seeps and hydrothermal vents.
Katey Walter, a University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate, has been awarded the nation's top dissertation honor by the Council of Graduate Schools. Her Ph.D. dissertation research identified a new method of measuring methane emissions from Siberian lakes, revealing significant greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global warming. ...
Scientists from 20 institutions collaborate on three grand challenges to study membrane proteins in cyanobacteria and subsurface metal-reducing bacteria. Early results show promising insights into environmental remediation, energy transfer, and natural processes.
Two dozen researchers from 16 institutions will participate in three- to-five-year studies on membrane proteins in cyanobacteria and subsurface metal-reducing bacteria. These projects aim to advance knowledge on microbial interactions with their environment, leading to potential applications in groundwater remediation and energy genera...