Researcher Finds Missing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

EARTH OBSERVATION

The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that elevated carbon dioxide levels are increasing carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems and slowing the build-up of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is thought to cause global warming by trapping heat radiated by the Earth.

Boston MA (SPX) Dec 03, 2004
A Northeastern University researcher Thursday announced that he has found that the soil below oak trees exposed to elevated levels of carbon dioxide had significantly higher carbon levels than those exposed to ambient carbon levels.

The research, published in the latest on-line edition of the journal Earth Interactions, represents an important advance in the global warming research. The lead author on the article, "Soil C Accumulation in a White Oak CO2-Enrichment Experiment via Enhanced Root Production," is Kevin G. Harrison from the department of earth and environmental sciences at Northeastern.

Contributors also include Richard J. Norby and Wilfred M. Post from the Oak Ridge National Library in Tennessee and Emily L. Chapp form the University of Hawaii.

In the study, the researchers sought to determine if the mechanism for storing carbon in soil was CO2 fertilization, the process by which plants grow better when exposed to high CO2 levels, and to investigate the extent to which CO2 fertilization could be increasing the amount of carbon stored in soil under white oak trees.

The researchers studied the soil below white oak trees in the temperate zone over four growing seasons and found that the soil below trees exposed to elevated levels of CO2 had an average of 14% more carbon.

"Researchers have long been puzzled by observations that show that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are increasing more slowly than expected.," said Harrison.

"This conundrum has hindered predictions of future carbon dioxide levels and, in turn, estimates of future global warming. By being able to demonstrate a substantial average increase in the carbon below these oak trees, we have potentially found the solution to better global warming forecasting."

"However, further research is needed in other ecosystems to see if they show similar responses to elevated carbon dioxide levels."

CLIMATE SCIENCE

Sea-level Clue To Climate Change

Chicago IL (SPX) Dec 02, 2004
It sounds like the plot for a disaster film: rising temperatures melt polar ice, causing a flood of freshwater to rapidly enter the salty North Atlantic. As the fresh and salty water mixes, density changes, altering the Gulf Stream ocean currents that moderate the North Atlantic climate. Science fiction? Not to a growing number of geologists and climatologists who've studied facts showing a precipitous 6-degree Centigrade drop in Greenland's average temperature some 8,200 years ago as the Earth was exiting the last ice age and polar ice sheets were melting in retreat.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.