Tag

Carbon Sequestration

All articles tagged with #carbon sequestration

Desert-Encircling Forests Turn Taklamakan into Carbon Sink, NASA-Caltech Reveal
world7 days ago

Desert-Encircling Forests Turn Taklamakan into Carbon Sink, NASA-Caltech Reveal

China’s Green Great Wall around the Taklamakan Desert has grown about 66 billion trees since 1978, transforming barren land into a carbon sink and modestly lowering regional CO2 as NASA-Caltech satellite data show atmospheric carbon dropping from 416 to 413 ppm; the effort demonstrates the potential of large-scale tree planting to reclaim desert landscapes, though global CO2 remains high and land available for forests is limited.

Bio-Printed, Self-Healing Building Material That Grows and Captures Carbon
science11 days ago

Bio-Printed, Self-Healing Building Material That Grows and Captures Carbon

Scientists have created a 3D-printed hydrogel embedded with cyanobacteria that can grow, sequester CO2, and precipitate calcium carbonate to potentially reinforce structures. Lab data over 400 days show cumulative CO2 capture of 26 ± 7 mg per gram of hydrogel (with 2.2 ± 0.9 mg/g in the first 30 days); the material remains viable under light and nutrient conditions and can be printed for architectural scale. An installation at the Venice Biennale demonstrates the concept in practice, but the researchers caution that at current scales the climate impact is uncertain and long-term (decades) performance remains to be proven, with the material’s efficiency limited by light access and maintenance needs.

Ancient Earth Warming Halted Plant Growth and Carbon Absorption
science2 months ago

Ancient Earth Warming Halted Plant Growth and Carbon Absorption

Around 56 million years ago, a rapid and intense global warming event caused significant changes in Earth's vegetation, with drought-resistant plants thriving at mid-latitudes and increased biomass in high-latitudes, but overall reducing the planet's capacity to sequester carbon, which prolonged the warming period. Modern warming, occurring ten times faster, may pose even greater challenges for plant adaptation and climate regulation.

Harnessing Plankton and Whale Feces to Tackle Oceanic Carbon Emissions
science1 year ago

Harnessing Plankton and Whale Feces to Tackle Oceanic Carbon Emissions

Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a method to enhance the ocean's natural carbon sequestration process by using clay dust to convert carbon into food for zooplankton. This process accelerates the biological pump, as zooplankton consume the clay-carbon flocs and excrete them at lower ocean depths, effectively storing carbon for millennia. The technique, which could capture up to 50% of carbon released by dying phytoplankton, is set to be field-tested off Southern California's coast.

Mars Minerals Suggest Liquid CO₂ May Have Hosted Ancient Life
science1 year ago

Mars Minerals Suggest Liquid CO₂ May Have Hosted Ancient Life

A new study suggests that some minerals on Mars may have formed in liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) rather than water, challenging the prevailing view that water was the primary liquid on ancient Mars. The research, led by Michael Hecht, explores how liquid CO2 could have contributed to the planet's geomorphological and mineralogical features, citing recent carbon sequestration studies that show similar mineral alterations in liquid CO2. The study calls for further research to test these reactions under conditions similar to early Mars.

environment1 year ago

LSU Webinar to Present CO2 Research on Lake Maurepas

LSU will host a webinar on July 25 to discuss ongoing research into CO2 storage in Louisiana's geological formations, focusing on Lake Maurepas. The research, led by Frank Tsai, examines the lake's geology and carbon migration patterns to assess the risks and benefits of carbon sequestration. The project is part of a larger initiative by Air Products to inject CO2 beneath the lake as part of a hydrogen manufacturing complex, which has sparked local controversy. Viewers can submit questions to the researchers during the webinar.

"Ocean Floor Topography Crucial to Carbon Storage, Study Finds"
scienceenvironment1 year ago

"Ocean Floor Topography Crucial to Carbon Storage, Study Finds"

A new study reveals that the shape and depth of the ocean floor significantly influence carbon sequestration, accounting for up to 50% of changes in carbon storage depth over the past 80 million years. This finding highlights the critical role of seafloor topography in the long-term carbon cycle, which has implications for climate change mitigation and the search for habitable planets.

"Tiny Underground Minions: Turning CO2 Into Stone"
scienceenvironment2 years ago

"Tiny Underground Minions: Turning CO2 Into Stone"

Scientists have discovered a Geobacillus bacteria species capable of accelerating the mineralization of CO2 deep underground, turning a process that typically takes 7 to 10 years into just 10 days. This rapid carbon mineralization could significantly increase the amount of CO2 that can be stored while preventing any gas from escaping, offering a potential solution for carbon sequestration. The bacteria were found 4,100 feet below the surface at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota, and their ability to transform CO2 into solid minerals could play a crucial role in achieving a "carbon negative" world and curbing the impact of climate change.

Scientists Identify Anoxic Marine Basins as Prime Sites for Deep-Sea Carbon Sequestration
science2 years ago

Scientists Identify Anoxic Marine Basins as Prime Sites for Deep-Sea Carbon Sequestration

Researchers from UC Santa Barbara propose that anoxic marine basins are promising locations for large-scale carbon sequestration in the deep ocean, potentially aiding in the reduction of atmospheric carbon levels. By sinking plant biomass into these oxygen-deprived zones on the seafloor, the carbon can be stored for extended periods, minimizing the release of CO2 and methane. The study identifies the Black Sea as a particularly suitable site due to its depth and isolation. While the concept has attracted private investment, further research is needed to understand the potential impacts and ensure the effectiveness of this carbon sequestration strategy.

"Uncovering the Carbon Impact of Ocean Trawling"
environment2 years ago

"Uncovering the Carbon Impact of Ocean Trawling"

Research shows that bottom trawling, a common fishing method, not only devastates seafloor ecosystems but also releases a significant amount of carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. The practice disrupts the natural carbon sequestration process in the ocean, leading to increased CO2 emissions and ocean acidification. The study highlights the urgent need for countries to reevaluate the environmental impact of bottom trawling and consider stricter regulations to mitigate its effects on biodiversity and the climate.

"Rock Dust: A Promising Climate Solution Backed by Tech Giants and Startups"
environment2 years ago

"Rock Dust: A Promising Climate Solution Backed by Tech Giants and Startups"

Companies including Stripe, Alphabet, and Shopify are investing over $57 million in a carbon removal initiative called Frontier, which aims to fight climate change by spreading crushed rock over farmland. This process, known as enhanced weathering, utilizes rocks' natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide. However, measuring the amount of CO2 sequestered has proven challenging. Lithos Carbon, an agtech startup, has developed a method to empirically measure carbon capture. By grinding rocks like basalt into gravel or dust and spreading them across land, the surface area increases, allowing for more CO2 absorption. Lithos then measures the chemical composition of the soil to determine the amount of CO2 removed. While there are challenges to overcome, such as potential side effects and accurately measuring carbon capture, enhanced weathering shows promise as a strategy to combat climate change.