Articles tagged with Soil Carbon
Researchers found that thawing permafrost is increasing the concentration of organic matter in Arctic and subarctic ponds. This leads to oxygen depletion and cooler water at the bottom of the ponds, impacting microbial activity and greenhouse gas production.
Scientists at Rothamsted Research have found that modern carbon emissions cannot be locked in the ground to halt global warming. The study analyzed long-term soil data and concluded that even significant increases in soil organic carbon are unrealistic over large areas of the planet.
Researchers studied the impact of reforestation on carbon sequestration in US topsoils and found that lands undergoing reforestation store increased topsoil carbon. These lands are predicted to sequester 1.3-2.1 petagrams of carbon within a century, offsetting approximately 1% of annual US greenhouse gas emissions.
A study estimates that reforesting US topsoils stores 13-21 million metric tons of carbon annually, equivalent to 10% of the country's forest-sector carbon sink. Over a century, this could sequester up to 2.1 billion metric tons of carbon.
A new study suggests that adding fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands can capture CO2, reduce pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility. This approach doesn't compete for land or increase freshwater demand, offering benefits such as reduced fertilizers and pesticides use.
Agroforestry systems have been shown to significantly increase soil organic carbon stocks, with an average increase of 34% from agriculture to agroforestry. The transition also showed increases in deeper layers, especially when including perennial plants.
A new study challenges the long-held assumption that soil animals contribute to the self-reinforcing effect of climate change by releasing more CO2. The research found that warming temperatures and drought actually lead to a decrease in feeding activity, contrary to expectations.
A study by Rice University researchers found that soil charcoal behaves differently than other forms of soil carbon, becoming more patchy and concentrated in low-lying areas. Charcoal's benefits as a soil amendment include reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and improving crop productivity.
Researchers have discovered that microbes in Antarctica can scavenge hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the air to sustain their energy needs. This discovery has significant implications for the search for life on other planets, suggesting that extra-terrestrial microbes could also rely on trace atmospheric gases.
A study by UMass Amherst researchers reveals that anaerobic microsites play a significant role in stabilizing soil carbon, contrary to previous assumptions. The team's findings suggest that these oxygen-free zones can protect up to 10 times more carbon from decomposition, posing a previously unrecognized threat to the global carbon cycle.
Researchers at Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs) will discuss various topics related to the critical zone, a region where fresh water flows, rock turns to soil, and life flourishes. Studies include the effects of Hurricane Maria on the Luquillo, Puerto Rico, critical zone and wildfire in the critical zone.
A study by RUDN University scientists suggests that urbanization can increase soil organic carbon stocks, particularly on less fertile soils. This process could help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Researchers have developed a new technique, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), to accurately measure soil carbon levels in coastal wetlands like mangrove forests. This method has higher accuracy and is non-toxic, fast, and inexpensive, making it suitable for large-scale monitoring.
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.
Stanford researchers found that managed soil can trap more carbon dioxide than previously estimated, potentially offsetting future emissions. Improving land management practices like reduced tillage and perennial crops could increase soil's carbon storage.
Researchers discovered a four-phase pattern in soil organic matter decay and carbon dioxide flows to the atmosphere due to soil warming. This pattern has significant implications for global warming, as it suggests that microbial communities are adapting to changing conditions by evolving new enzymes to process reduced carbon.
A 26-year study has revealed a cyclical response between soil warming and carbon release, suggesting a self-reinforcing feedback loop that could exacerbate global warming. The study found that warmed soils experienced periods of abundant carbon release, alternating with periods of no detectable loss in soil carbon stores.
A new study published in Nature Communications outlines the mechanisms of converting permafrost carbon to CO2, highlighting the importance of sunlight and the right microbial community. The research found that sunlight enhances decay by some microbial communities, making frozen carbon more accessible to others.
New research suggests that reducing deforestation and increasing soil carbon sequestration in agriculture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining or improving food security. This approach has the potential to bring benefits for climate change mitigation while minimizing trade-offs with food security.
A study predicts that changes in precipitation and air temperature will lead to increased plant mortality risk in 13 temperate and tropical forests worldwide. However, higher atmospheric humidity and CO2 concentrations partially offset this rising mortality risk.
Researchers propose a new approach to understanding soil organic matter's response to climate change and atmospheric chemistry. Soil microbes contribute significantly to stable carbon pools through catabolic and anabolic activities, which could lead to improved soil stabilization and renewal strategies.
Agricultural land use has led to significant soil carbon loss over the past 12,000 years. Major cropping or grazing regions show high hotspots of soil carbon loss, indicating potential areas for restoration.
Researchers developed a portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (PXRF) device to measure calcium levels in soils. The device provides accurate data on 20 elements in 60 seconds, improving field assessments for soil scientists.
Researchers found that soil microbes respond differently to shifts in moisture, with those from wetter areas respiring twice as much carbon to the atmosphere. This discovery suggests historical rainfall levels can impact climate modeling, improving predictions of local or regional differences in soil respiration and climate history.
A study by Kansas State University ecologists found that leaf litter decomposition rates are less than half of what the metabolic theory predicts, even at higher temperatures. This suggests that warmer temperatures may not accelerate decomposition as much as expected.
Cornell University scientists discovered a high-definition system allowing electrons to travel through soil more efficiently than previously thought. Biochar amendments facilitate this process, promoting conductive networks and growth.
New research finds that warming soil layers can increase CO2 release by 34-37% due to deeper storage of carbon. This suggests a significant source of uncertainty in climate projections and highlights the need for better understanding of soil's role in climate change.
A new European study has found that soil carbon loss is more sensitive to climate change compared to carbon taken up by plants. In wetter regions, soil carbon loss increased, while in drier regions it decreased, and this could lead to a positive feedback on atmospheric CO2 levels.
The task force proposes strategies to recycle carbon dioxide and remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, complementing carbon-free approaches like electrification. These approaches aim to produce an overall emissions reduction of at least one billion tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The study found that tall fescue resulted in more soil carbon than Kentucky bluegrass, but required more frequent mowing. Returning grass clippings increased both soil carbon and nitrogen compared to when clippings were collected.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that wetlands store a significant amount of carbon, with freshwater inland wetlands holding nearly 10 times more carbon than tidal saltwater sites. The research highlights the importance of protecting wetlands from human activity to prevent climate change.
Recent research suggests that coastal wetland ecosystems such as mangrove forests, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows are effective climate buffers, storing carbon for hundreds to thousands of years. Coastal wetlands capture and store more than 200 metric tons of carbon per year globally, with 50-90% stored in soils.
Researchers found that both crops successfully sequestered more carbon in the soil than was lost from the soil surface, with sugarcane storing three times as much carbon. Deficit irrigation boosted soil carbon sequestration but reduced yield.
Researchers at University of Nevada, Reno partner with Earthwatch Institute to study Sierra meadow ecosystems and their carbon storage potential. Citizen scientists from northern California and Reno area participate in project, measuring carbon stored in plants and vegetation.
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.
A new study found that melting permafrost during a past warming spike led to the massive release of stored carbon into the atmosphere, with severe deepening of the active layer and enhanced microbial respiration. The research provides crucial insights into how permafrost will respond to future climate change.
The Department of Energy's PNNL is conducting two ongoing research efforts exploring the properties of soil. MinT initiative focuses on microbes in soil, while IPASS studies fundamental processes affecting carbon, nitrogen and water through plant ecosystems.
The book outlines land management practices tested in twelve global projects to address soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. It offers evidence-based research with a focus on implementation, aiming to bridge the gap between science and practice.
A new study predicts that climate change will release 55 trillion kilograms of carbon from the soil by mid-century, exacerbating global warming. The impact on the soil's storage capacity is expected to be equivalent to adding another industrialized country like the US to the planet.
A new study predicts that global warming will drive the loss of at least 55 trillion kilograms of carbon from soils by mid-century, more than double projected human-related emissions. This loss is expected to be greatest in high latitudes, where cold conditions have allowed massive carbon stocks to build up over thousands of years.
A study found that soil respiration rates increase with temperature up to 25°C, but decrease above this threshold. The Arctic and deserts are most responsive to climate warming due to higher carbon storage in soils.
Experts predict that soils will lose a significant amount of their carbon content, leading to increased soil erosion and flood damage. Land use changes and management practices are crucial to mitigate this trend and protect soil functions.
Coastal Louisiana's unique situation allows scientists to study future global sea level rise effects on wetland-dominated coastlines. The region experiences a relative sea level rise rate of 13 millimeters per year, with extensive coastal wetland loss and rapid erosion of carbon-rich peat soils.
Microbiologist Kristen DeAngelis receives $2.5 million grant from US Department of Energy to study soil microbes' impact on carbon cycle. The research aims to improve understanding of how climate change affects soil carbon storage and develop new methods for modeling microbial contributions to global carbon cycling.
A new study chronicles how Central Asia dried out over the last 23 million years due to the rise of lesser-known mountain ranges. Researchers measured carbon isotope values in ancient soil samples to draw a fuller portrait of climatic changes, showing an exceptionally arid region deep in Asia's interior.
A new mapping project identifies 20% of the globe's northern permafrost region as potential thermokarst landscape, storing twice as much carbon as currently in the atmosphere. Scientists can use the map to estimate greenhouse gas emissions and test assumptions about permafrost thaw.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have created the world's first global PyC database, revealing charcoal is a major component of soil worldwide. The study found PyC represents more than half of the organic matter identified, with agricultural land and high pH soils retaining it best.
The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute has accepted 10 new research projects to harness the combined power of genomics and molecular characterization, exploring pressing questions in energy, environment, and basic research. The selected proposals focus on topics such as plant-microbe interactions, biofuels, and biogeochem...
A University of Alaska Fairbanks-led study measures methane release from Arctic permafrost, finding nearly no sign that it has begun, despite projections of large emissions in the future. The research suggests current rates are still below expected levels, but warn of a significant threat to global carbon levels.
A new study calls for collaboration between modelers and soil scientists to improve understanding of soil carbon turnover and its potential impact on climate feedbacks. The researchers aim to increase confidence in climate projections by representing a range of ideas about how the world works in models.
Scientists have untangled the genetic material of Kansas soil, reconstructing portions of 129 microbial genomes. The study provides a leap forward in understanding the diversity and interactions of microbes in complex soil samples.
A nine-year study by R. Howard Skinner found that multispecies pastures produce significantly more forage than two-species mixtures, with an average increase of 31%. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced carbon storage in the soil, allowing it to hold more water and mitigate droughts.
Soil moisture levels in the Arctic play a crucial role in determining carbon emissions as temperatures rise. A recent study found that dry soils release significantly more carbon than wet soils, even accounting for methane production.
Research by Dr Iain Hartley at the University of Exeter found that carbon dioxide is the biggest player in controlling future rates of permafrost thaw. Soils with dry conditions release more than three times as much carbon as those with wet, low-oxygen conditions.
A study by Northern Arizona University's Christina Schädel found that carbon dioxide is the largest contributor to permafrost thawing, with dry soils releasing more CO2 than wet ones. This discovery highlights the need to monitor changes in soil moisture conditions to better understand the impact of permafrost thawing on climate change.
A study published in Nature Climate Change found that carbon dioxide emissions from dry soils will strengthen the climate forcing impact of thawing permafrost. In contrast, oxygen-poor wetlands primarily release methane. The research highlights the need to monitor changes in soil moisture conditions, which have a greater effect on carb...
Research suggests that protecting natural forest regrowth in secondary tropical forests can significantly reduce carbon emissions. These young and middle-aged forests have the potential to capture equivalent amounts of carbon as Latin America and the Caribbean between 1993 and 2014. If left alone for 40 years, they could play a substan...
Three PNNL scientists, Yingge Du, Kirsten Hofmockel, and James Moran, have been selected to receive Early Career Research Program grants from the Department of Energy. They will conduct research in climate science, energy storage, and other areas, with each receiving at least $2.5 million over five years.
Researchers discover microbes creating tubular microtunnels in basaltic volcanic glass on Earth, expanding our understanding of subsurface microbial activity. This finding also suggests that similar features may exist on Mars, potentially near the surface, which could aid future Mars missions.
Despite a severe drought, the contiguous United States remained a carbon sink in 2012, absorbing more carbon during warmer springs and releasing less during dry summers. The unique combination of measured data from various sources allowed researchers to calculate the carbon exchange for the entire US during this period.