Articles tagged with Carbon Cycle
A study found that pushing past a critical threshold in the carbon cycle can trigger extreme ocean acidification, potentially leading to mass extinctions. The research suggests that once this threshold is breached, the Earth's response becomes self-sustaining, amplifying the effects of initial triggers.
International study finds that as temperatures rise, trees grow faster but die younger, reducing the amount of carbon they store. This phenomenon has significant implications for global carbon cycle dynamics.
A new paper outlines critical mechanisms involved in the ocean carbon cycle, specifically the biological pump. Researchers found that particle injection pumps are a more efficient way of pulling carbon from the surface into the deep waters.
A new Yale study uncovers key relationship between storm events, ecology, and topography in moderating greenhouse gas release from rivers and streams. Concentrations of three greenhouse gases increase during rainstorms in wetland streams but decrease or remain constant in forested streams.
A new study reveals the microbial food web in Amazonian waters, consisting of 20% of the whole Amazon, produces 10 times more CO2 than the classical food chain by decomposing organic matter. This accounts for most of the carbon circulating in lakes, floodplains, and wetlands.
Scientists discovered over 1,000 buried wetland sites worldwide, revealing a record of wetland presence and peat burial. These findings suggest that peat burial can slow down the transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to land, potentially offsetting climate warming.
A new study reveals that peatlands have been a significant carbon sink over the past 130,000 years, storing carbon in their deposits and potentially slowing down climate change. The research, published in PNAS, fills a key knowledge gap about the global extent of peatlands and their role in the carbon cycle.
Researchers use X-ray nanotomography to study the 3D structure of coccolithophore calcite shells, revealing correlations between shell mass and organic template size. The findings provide new insights into the role of these tiny microorganisms in the global carbon cycle.
Recent studies found that dry inland waters play a significant role in the global carbon cycle, emitting around 0.2 gigatonnes of CO2 annually. Freshwaters also act as carbon sinks when water levels are high, but emit gases when they dry out. The team suggests reservoirs as potential targets for reducing CO2 emissions from inland waters.
A global collaboration of ecological researchers, including Kent State University's Dave Costello, has revealed new findings on the effect of climatic factors on river-based ecosystems. The study found that temperature and moisture influenced carbon-cycling rates of river ecosystems.
A new study reveals that animal movements can trigger direct or indirect feedback effects altering landscapes' capacity to absorb or release carbon. This integration of animal ecology and remote sensing can improve predictions and management of carbon cycling across ecosystems.
A new study found that mined lands undergo dramatic increases in chemical weathering rates, melting away bedrock up to 45 times faster than unmined areas. This process releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, offsetting 20-90% of the carbon absorbed by plants.
Daily fish migration fuels metabolism of single-celled heterotrophic prokaryotes, revealing a labile DOC source that supports microbial community growth. Higher microbial diversity found in mesopelagic zone than expected.
The study found that microbes mediate the microbial carbon pump (MCP), which takes up labile organic carbon and removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The MCP's importance may increase under global warming due to changes in planktonic organisms favorable for MCP.
A new study by Florida State University researchers has found that tiny phaeodarian organisms in the ocean's twilight zone are consuming up to 20% of sinking, carbon-rich particles before they reach the deep ocean. This discovery suggests a significant impact on Earth's carbon cycle and challenges current climate dynamics.
A massive world-wide study of dry riverbeds has found they're contributing more carbon emissions than previously thought. The contribution of intermittent rivers and streams to the process of carbon cycling is largely ignored, but new data suggests this may be higher than initially estimated.
A team of researchers discovered that deep ocean aquifers can break down more refractory carbon than previously thought. Microbes in the aquifer consume carbon, changing the composition of the surrounding seawater. This finding has the potential to reshape our understanding of carbon cycling in the deep ocean.
Researchers discover a previously unknown connection between seafloor weathering and the slow carbon cycle. The study reveals that fluctuations in seafloor spreading rates drive changes in ocean crust capacity to store carbon dioxide.
Researchers have created detailed global maps of key plant traits that significantly impact carbon cycle calculations. The maps show substantial local diversity, contradicting previous simplistic models that assumed identical trait values across regions. This advancement will lead to more accurate modeling of carbon cycle feedbacks.
Researchers from Bigelow Laboratory discovered nitrite-oxidizing bacteria to be key players in the global carbon cycle, capturing more than 1.1 gigatons of CO2 annually. These large, relatively rare bacteria outperform archaea in carbon capture, highlighting a significant shift in our understanding of oceanic carbon cycling.
A recent analysis by Stanford University researchers found that places with high animal diversity correlate with areas that have the most carbon sequestered in soil. The team discovered that meal remnants from animals contribute to an increase in soil microbes, which convert organic material into stored carbon.
A study by MIT professor Daniel Rothman suggests that a sixth mass extinction may occur if the world's oceans hold enough carbon to destabilize the system. By 2100, human activities are estimated to add about 310 gigatons of carbon to the oceans, potentially tipping the planet into unknown territory.
Researchers observed atomic-level dissolution processes of calcite using high-speed FM-AFM, revealing an intermediate state called the transition region. The team proposes a new dissolution mechanism involving the formation of Ca(OH)2 monolayer and its effects on surface stability.
Researchers studied iron carbonate under extreme conditions to understand the deep Earth's carbon cycle and its role in global warming. They found unprecedented structural stability of a tetracarbonate phase at high pressures, suggesting self-oxidation-reduction reactions can preserve carbonates in the lower mantle.
The University of Oklahoma has secured an $161 million NASA contract for a groundbreaking Earth science mission. The Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb) will monitor plant health and vegetation stress across the Americas, as well as probe carbon dioxide and methane exchange processes in the atmosphere.
Foraminifera, single-celled organisms that form the base of marine food webs, struggle to build their shells and make spines in high CO2 environments. This study suggests that stressed foraminifera could indicate a larger scale disruption of carbon cycling in the ocean.
Researchers have found that giant larvaceans, tiny plankton that live in the upper 400 meters of the ocean, filter carbon particles at higher rates than any other zooplankton. These structures sink to the sea floor, significantly contributing to moving organic materials into deeper water.
Researchers discovered that microbes in polar streams are producing organic material, potentially contributing to an underestimated 'dynamic local carbon cycle' as temperatures rise
A Florida State University researcher investigated how carbon moves from the ocean surface to greater depths and remains there for hundreds of years. The study found that certain areas of the sea, particularly fronts where temperature or salinity changes, act as giant conduits moving carbon to deeper depths.
Researchers use neutron diffraction to study high-pressure and high-temperature phases of solid carbon dioxide, shedding light on the Earth's carbon cycle and potential for carbon substitution with silicon dioxide. The study provides new insights into the behavior of carbon dioxide under extreme conditions.
The University of Oklahoma will monitor plant health and vegetation stress throughout the Americas using a commercial communications satellite. The mission aims to examine natural sources and processes that control carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane in the atmosphere.
A global study predicts that soils may release large quantities of carbon dioxide in response to warming, leading to even faster rates of warming globally. Soils in Arctic ecosystems are the most susceptible to releasing stored carbon when warmed.
Researchers simulate carbon dissolution in water-rich fluids at the Earth's upper mantle, revealing unexpected forms of carbon, and challenging previous geochemical models. The study suggests that water transports carbon mostly through highly active ions, not dissolved CO2 molecules.
The Colorado River delta's annual carbon cycle has changed dramatically due to poor water management, with fossil clam shells revealing vast amounts of carbon being added to the atmosphere. The reduced carbon emissions at the delta are vastly outweighed by the carbon emissions from transporting water to cities and farms.
Researchers estimate that seaweed globally sequesters 173 trillion grams of carbon per year, with 90% of this being due to transport into deep-sea sediments. This highlights the significance of seaweed as a major carbon sink, surpassing Amazonian forests.
Researchers at UTA examine global warming events during the Early Paleogene period, which occurred 66-45 million years ago. They aim to understand the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on life on Earth and provide analogs for current climate change.
Researchers have developed new tools to understand the complex relationships between ocean-borne compounds and microbes, revealing a vast network of molecular connections that store and transform atmospheric carbon in the world's oceans. The study focuses on dissolved organic matter, or DOM, as a central carbon reservoir.
Two studies reveal how human-made forest changes affect the carbon cycle and air temperature. Replacing broadleaved forests with conifers increases evapotranspiration and albedo, contributing to warming. Forest clearing causes an increase in average and maximum surface temperatures, except at northern latitudes.
Researchers present a novel method to analyze apatite inclusions in magmatic zircon and titanite, allowing estimation of whole-rock Sr and SiO2 concentrations. This technique provides insight into petrogenesis and provenance, enabling better understanding of the continental crust's evolution.
Research suggests certain types of carbon-intensive algae are flourishing as carbon pumps, removing CO2 from the atmosphere. A shift in phytoplankton dominance occurred over the past millennium, with a more recent transition happening in less than 200 years.
A new study finds that Alaskan permafrost soil is biodegradable, releasing its stored carbon directly back into the atmosphere as CO2. The process occurs rapidly, with almost half of the carbon being consumed by microbes within 200 hours.
Research in Alaska's Yukon Flats reveals massive carbon losses due to increasing fire frequency, challenging assumptions about recent fire activity. The study finds that the region has become a net exporter of carbon, posing a significant threat to the global carbon cycle and climate balance.
New research emphasizes the importance of preserving large fish populations to maintain carbon cycling in blue carbon ecosystems. The loss of top predators can have serious environmental consequences, including reduced carbon storage in coastal wetlands.
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) has successfully transitioned to Phase B, paving the way for the deployment of a laser-based instrument on the International Space Station. This mission aims to provide high-resolution measurements of Earth's forest vertical structure, enabling scientists to better understand the globa...
Researchers are working to reduce uncertainty in carbon cycle science by harmonizing data on key components, including Mexico and the US. This will help better understand how diverse regions respond to climate change and improve confidence in models.
Researchers estimate that subduction returns almost no carbon to the mantle, with 'exchange between reservoirs in balance.' New analysis sheds light on Earth's climate over geologic time scales and implications for life.
Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution calculated the first direct estimate of how much organic carbon is exported to the ocean by rivers. The study found that rivers transport approximately 200 megatons of carbon to the ocean annually, with 80% coming from terrestrial biosphere and 20% from petrogenic sources.
Researchers from the Malaspina Expedition found that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the deep ocean is not degraded by bacteria due to low concentrations of degradable compounds. The study provides new insights into the regulation of the carbon cycle and global climate.
The DOE JGI Community Science Program selected 32 projects to study microbial communities in various environments, including those affected by hydraulic fracturing and coral reefs. The research will help understand the impact of environmental changes on these ecosystems and develop solutions for major energy and environmental problems.
Scientists at the University of Miami re-evaluate the global carbon cycle by analyzing marine sediment cores, suggesting that post-depositional changes can mimic ancient trends. This new perspective highlights the importance of understanding geological context in interpreting carbon isotope records.
A new study published in Global Change Biology found that habitat fragmentation significantly alters the cycling of carbon and nutrients in woodland ecosystems. The researchers discovered that drier conditions at the edges of forest patches slow down the decay of dead wood, leading to a reduction in wood decomposition rates.
Research in Saanich Inlet reveals sulfur-oxidizing bacterial group SUP05 dominates oxygen-starved regions, driving carbon dioxide fixation and nutrient cycling. The study sheds light on the ecological impact of microbial respiration in the oxygen-poor ocean.
The current state of knowledge on wildland fire emissions highlights critical gaps in understanding their impact on climate and terrestrial carbon cycling. Scientists emphasize the importance of continued research to address these knowledge gaps.
Deeply buried fossil soils in the Great Plains have been found to be rich in carbon, potentially grossly underestimating carbon storage capacity. The study's findings suggest that these ancient soils could contribute significantly to global climate change as they are disturbed.
New research reveals dryland ecosystems have emerged as a significant driver of the global carbon cycle, contributing to a four-fold increase in net carbon uptake. The study highlights the impact of climate extremes and desert greening on ecosystem processes, with surprising interactions discovered between natural events and biomes.
A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study finds that Alteromonas bacteria can consume as much dissolved organic carbon as diverse communities of organisms. This discovery sheds light on the complex mechanisms of ocean carbon cycling and highlights the importance of individual species in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Researchers found long-term cycles in oceanic carbon isotope sequence, suggesting a connection between ice-sheet and carbon cycles. The study reveals that the Southern Ocean's nutrient transfer led to major changes in global ocean biogeochemistry.
Scientists have devised a pair of math equations that better describe how topography, rock compositions, and water movement affect the geologic carbon cycle. The research, supported by the National Research Foundation, aims to improve understanding of the recycling process between carbon dioxide and rocky interior.
A recent University of Oklahoma study suggests that non-uniform climate warming affects global regions differently, impacting ecosystem functions such as food production and carbon sequestration. The effects of non-uniform warming on terrestrial ecosystems are a key challenge in carbon cycle research and future predictions.
Research reveals tropical ecosystems releasing 2 billion extra tonnes of carbon into atmosphere per year with each 1 degree rise in tropical temperature. The study suggests increased vulnerability of tropical ecosystems to climate change, contradicting current land carbon cycle models.