Latest news with #GlobalCarbonBudget
13-05-2025
- Science
Why too much carbon dioxide harms the planet
Carbon dioxide may be a naturally occurring substance on Earth, but too much of its presence has contributed to global warming, climate scientists say. Carbon dioxide, known by the chemical formula CO2, is a gas produced by various natural processes, including respiration in animals and plants, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and the decay of organic matter. But human activity since the 1800s, namely the use of fossil fuels for energy, is overwhelming the planet's natural carbon sinks, such as oceans and forests. Therefore, the heat-trapping gas causes global temperatures to rise as more of it accumulates in the Earth's atmosphere. "CO2 is rising right now because of the emissions that we're putting into the atmosphere, and it's rising very rapidly," Bärbel Hönisch, professor of earth and environmental sciences at the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told ABC News. "And carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, and so it heats the atmosphere." But the invisible gas is also critical for life on Earth. Plants breathe it in, and humans breathe it out. The goal of climate mitigation isn't to remove CO2 from the atmosphere completely, but to even out the unnatural surplus instead, said ABC News Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent Ginger Zee. "We want to get back to the natural amount of CO2," Zee said. The consequences of extra CO2 in the atmosphere extends beyond the climate itself. As excess greenhouse gases heat the planet, the ocean becomes more acidic, impacting marine life, Hönisch said. In addition, climate change is fueling rapid growth of certain types of algae, further collapsing ecosystems, Hönisch added. "Climate is a combination of different components that must be just right for life to exist on our planet," she said. Humans have injected more than 1.5 trillion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution, when the use of fossils fuels began to skyrocket, according to the Global Carbon Budget. Historical levels of climate change are determined by a number of processes. Samples of ice, lake and seafloor cores indicate how much carbon dioxide existed at different periods on the planet. In addition, more than six decades of CO2 measurements have been taken at the Mau Loa Observatory on Hawaii's Big Island, home to the largest active volcano in the world. The Keeling Curve, a graph that plots concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere over time, uses measurements taken at Mau Loa Observatory, starting in 1958. In 2024, CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere reached the highest ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Curbing the emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use is key for limiting the impacts of a warming world, such as more frequent and intense extreme weather events and rising sea levels, climate scientists say.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why too much carbon dioxide harms the planet
Carbon dioxide may be a naturally occurring substance on Earth, but too much of its presence has contributed to global warming, climate scientists say. Carbon dioxide, known by the chemical formula CO2, is a gas produced by various natural processes, including respiration in animals and plants, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and the decay of organic matter. MORE: Do plastic bag bans work? Here's what the science says. But human activity since the 1800s, namely the use of fossil fuels for energy, is overwhelming the planet's natural carbon sinks, such as oceans and forests. Therefore, the heat-trapping gas causes global temperatures to rise as more of it accumulates in the Earth's atmosphere. "CO2 is rising right now because of the emissions that we're putting into the atmosphere, and it's rising very rapidly," Bärbel Hönisch, professor of earth and environmental sciences at the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told ABC News. "And carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, and so it heats the atmosphere." But the invisible gas is also critical for life on Earth. Plants breathe it in, and humans breathe it out. MORE: New Biomass satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests The goal of climate mitigation isn't to remove CO2 from the atmosphere completely, but to even out the unnatural surplus instead, said ABC News Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent Ginger Zee. "We want to get back to the natural amount of CO2," Zee said. The consequences of extra CO2 in the atmosphere extends beyond the climate itself. As excess greenhouse gases heat the planet, the ocean becomes more acidic, impacting marine life, Hönisch said. In addition, climate change is fueling rapid growth of certain types of algae, further collapsing ecosystems, Hönisch added. "Climate is a combination of different components that must be just right for life to exist on our planet," she said. MORE: How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air Humans have injected more than 1.5 trillion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution, when the use of fossils fuels began to skyrocket, according to the Global Carbon Budget. Historical levels of climate change are determined by a number of processes. Samples of ice, lake and seafloor cores indicate how much carbon dioxide existed at different periods on the planet. In addition, more than six decades of CO2 measurements have been taken at the Mau Loa Observatory on Hawaii's Big Island, home to the largest active volcano in the world. The Keeling Curve, a graph that plots concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere over time, uses measurements taken at Mau Loa Observatory, starting in 1958. In 2024, CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere reached the highest ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. MORE: Researchers find new way to store carbon dioxide absorbed by plants at the bottom of the Black Sea Curbing the emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use is key for limiting the impacts of a warming world, such as more frequent and intense extreme weather events and rising sea levels, climate scientists say. Why too much carbon dioxide harms the planet originally appeared on
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air
A simple solution to making modern life more sustainable may have been hiding under our feet -- and bikes and cars and trunks -- this whole time. A North Carolina-based carbon removal company has been collecting rock dust leftover from the construction of roadways, runways and roofs and using the nutrient dense material to capture carbon and make farming more efficient. The rocks, such limestone and basalt -- as well as volcanic ash -- are found in nature, similar to other forms of natural carbon capture, such as trees in forests and seaweed underwater. MORE: Mile-deep underwater volcano could erupt off West Coast this year, scientists say Silicate minerals crushed in basalt can permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere -- a solution called enhanced rock weathering that Lithos Carbon has been using to transform farmland into carbon capture centers. In the past, the rock dust would be thrown away and sent to landfills, but researchers have discovered it's actually a carbon sink and increases crop yields significantly. Lithos Carbon has been capturing up to 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year using the basalt dust, Mary Yap, CEO of Lithos Carbon, told ABC News. "It's not rocket science," Yap said. "It's rock science." Finding natural solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere can offset the dozens of billions of emissions released into the atmosphere each year. In 2024, 37.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide was emitted globally — up from 11 billion tons released annually in the 1960s, according to the Global Carbon Budget. The rocks are ground to a fine dust to speed up the carbon capture process. A large chunk of rock would take thousands of years to capture the same amount of carbon, Yap said. "Our job is to supercharge what nature could do over time," Yap said. The dust is then spread over millions of acres of land in a 1-millimeter depth. As the material is spread, data measured from the cab of the tractor is sent to Lithos, which collects soil samples to ensure their efforts are working. MORE: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the world's most active, erupts for 7th time since December Lithos Carbon's goal is to capture another billion tons of carbon over the next decade using the waste matter from the Sunrock mine, just outside Durham, North Carolina. The miners have been stockpiling the waste for the past decade, ever since they discovered the rock dust is actually climate gold -- resulting in a 125-foot mountain of material. Lithos Carbon is now carting the rock dust away by the truckload to nearby farms. Rick Bennett, a lifelong farmer in Butner, North Carolina, has been sprinkling the rock dust onto his fields as fertilizer and is now convinced that some things are not too good to be true, he told ABC News. "The pH of the soil and increasing crop yields ... it also benefits every person on the planet -- that it's cleaning the air at the same time," Bennett said. MORE: Food prices could increase further due to climate change's effect on inflation around the world: Study Lithos is touting enhanced rock weathering as a straightforward and natural solution to the climate crisis and decarbonizing industries. "We're just taking things humans already do -- rocks, farms, tractors, spreaders, science -- and then bringing it all together," Yap said. "And hopefully something that more of the globe can run with as well." ABC News' Climate Unit contributed to this report. How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air originally appeared on
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air
A simple solution to making modern life more sustainable may have been hiding under our feet -- and bikes and cars and trunks -- this whole time. A North Carolina-based carbon removal company has been collecting rock dust leftover from the construction of roadways, runways and roofs and using the nutrient dense material to capture carbon and make farming more efficient. The rocks, such limestone and basalt -- as well as volcanic ash -- are found in nature, similar to other forms of natural carbon capture, such as trees in forests and seaweed underwater. MORE: Mile-deep underwater volcano could erupt off West Coast this year, scientists say Silicate minerals crushed in basalt can permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere -- a solution called enhanced rock weathering that Lithos Carbon has been using to transform farmland into carbon capture centers. In the past, the rock dust would be thrown away and sent to landfills, but researchers have discovered it's actually a carbon sink and increases crop yields significantly. Lithos Carbon has been capturing up to 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year using the basalt dust, Mary Yap, CEO of Lithos Carbon, told ABC News. "It's not rocket science," Yap said. "It's rock science." Finding natural solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere can offset the dozens of billions of emissions released into the atmosphere each year. In 2024, 37.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide was emitted globally — up from 11 billion tons released annually in the 1960s, according to the Global Carbon Budget. The rocks are ground to a fine dust to speed up the carbon capture process. A large chunk of rock would take thousands of years to capture the same amount of carbon, Yap said. "Our job is to supercharge what nature could do over time," Yap said. The dust is then spread over millions of acres of land in a 1-millimeter depth. As the material is spread, data measured from the cab of the tractor is sent to Lithos, which collects soil samples to ensure their efforts are working. MORE: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the world's most active, erupts for 7th time since December Lithos Carbon's goal is to capture another billion tons of carbon over the next decade using the waste matter from the Sunrock mine, just outside Durham, North Carolina. The miners have been stockpiling the waste for the past decade, ever since they discovered the rock dust is actually climate gold -- resulting in a 125-foot mountain of material. Lithos Carbon is now carting the rock dust away by the truckload to nearby farms. Rick Bennett, a lifelong farmer in Butner, North Carolina, has been sprinkling the rock dust onto his fields as fertilizer and is now convinced that some things are not too good to be true, he told ABC News. "The pH of the soil and increasing crop yields ... it also benefits every person on the planet -- that it's cleaning the air at the same time," Bennett said. MORE: Food prices could increase further due to climate change's effect on inflation around the world: Study Lithos is touting enhanced rock weathering as a straightforward and natural solution to the climate crisis and decarbonizing industries. "We're just taking things humans already do -- rocks, farms, tractors, spreaders, science -- and then bringing it all together," Yap said. "And hopefully something that more of the globe can run with as well." ABC News' Climate Unit contributed to this report. How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air originally appeared on
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air
A simple solution to making modern life more sustainable may have been hiding under our feet -- and bikes and cars and trunks -- this whole time. A North Carolina-based carbon removal company has been collecting rock dust leftover from the construction of roadways, runways and roofs and using the nutrient dense material to capture carbon and make farming more efficient. The rocks, such limestone and basalt -- as well as volcanic ash -- are found in nature, similar to other forms of natural carbon capture, such as trees in forests and seaweed underwater. MORE: Mile-deep underwater volcano could erupt off West Coast this year, scientists say Silicate minerals crushed in basalt can permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere -- a solution called enhanced rock weathering that Lithos Carbon has been using to transform farmland into carbon capture centers. In the past, the rock dust would be thrown away and sent to landfills, but researchers have discovered it's actually a carbon sink and increases crop yields significantly. Lithos Carbon has been capturing up to 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year using the basalt dust, Mary Yap, CEO of Lithos Carbon, told ABC News. "It's not rocket science," Yap said. "It's rock science." Finding natural solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere can offset the dozens of billions of emissions released into the atmosphere each year. In 2024, 37.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide was emitted globally — up from 11 billion tons released annually in the 1960s, according to the Global Carbon Budget. The rocks are ground to a fine dust to speed up the carbon capture process. A large chunk of rock would take thousands of years to capture the same amount of carbon, Yap said. "Our job is to supercharge what nature could do over time," Yap said. The dust is then spread over millions of acres of land in a 1-millimeter depth. As the material is spread, data measured from the cab of the tractor is sent to Lithos, which collects soil samples to ensure their efforts are working. MORE: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the world's most active, erupts for 7th time since December Lithos Carbon's goal is to capture another billion tons of carbon over the next decade using the waste matter from the Sunrock mine, just outside Durham, North Carolina. The miners have been stockpiling the waste for the past decade, ever since they discovered the rock dust is actually climate gold -- resulting in a 125-foot mountain of material. Lithos Carbon is now carting the rock dust away by the truckload to nearby farms. Rick Bennett, a lifelong farmer in Butner, North Carolina, has been sprinkling the rock dust onto his fields as fertilizer and is now convinced that some things are not too good to be true, he told ABC News. "The pH of the soil and increasing crop yields ... it also benefits every person on the planet -- that it's cleaning the air at the same time," Bennett said. MORE: Food prices could increase further due to climate change's effect on inflation around the world: Study Lithos is touting enhanced rock weathering as a straightforward and natural solution to the climate crisis and decarbonizing industries. "We're just taking things humans already do -- rocks, farms, tractors, spreaders, science -- and then bringing it all together," Yap said. "And hopefully something that more of the globe can run with as well." ABC News' Climate Unit contributed to this report. How rock dust is used to fertilize farms, clean the air originally appeared on
