Carbon loss from soil accelerating climate change
It seems
like there is another development in the increase of climate change in the
world. Two Northern Arizona University researchers discovered that the
increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes soil microbes to
produce more carbon dioxide accelerating climate change. The researchers
conducted an experiment from 53 different areas around the world e.g. forests,
grasslands and agricultural fields. This experiment measured how the extra carbon
in the atmosphere affected the plant growth, the microbial production of carbon
and the total amount of soil carbon at the end of this experiment. The past
accepted belief was that carbon is stored in wood and soil for a long time
slowing the climate change. But this new belief suggests that extra carbon
provides fuel to microorganisms in the soil whose byproducts, like carbon, are
released into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change.
It is crazy
to think that the soil microbes are contributing to more carbon into the
atmosphere creating a faster climate change. It makes one think that the nature
areas around cities are actually doubling the cities impact of carbon into the
atmosphere. So not only is the cities inhabitants are causing the climate to
change rapidly so is nature, that is so intense. However if we cut down on our
carbon output then maybe nature will be able to cut down its carbon output.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140424140907.htm
Rachel, this is an interesting topic it is also very controversial because some people argue that humans do not add to the climate change and other argue that we do. Now we can say that microbes do as well! We have learned in Diana’s class that microbes changed the early atmosphere of earth so it was inhabitable by human life. It is interesting that microbes can sense when there is a shift in carbon dioxide in the air and in turn start producing more. I know that there are a lot of factors that contribute to the climate change including humans. It is interesting that microbes can increase the carbon dioxide output as well. I am also curious as to how plants act with the increasing carbon dioxide output; because they intake carbon dioxide as part of their nutrients. I wonder if they start to increase their intake of carbon dioxide because there is more in the air and I wonder if planting more plants would help to solve the issue of increasing carbon dioxide levels. This study seems like it has more questions to answer and it will be interesting to see the results.
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy to think that microbes are causing the climate to change. Its been controversial that humans have been the cause because of all the pollutants and trash. But now since microbes are the cause, how will we take a step forward in order to stop this? If too much carbon dioxide gets released, it will be a very big problem in the future and it might lead to disastrous situations.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog. Perhaps microbes aren't as good for the environment as we thought! But I feel like microbes aren't to blame for global warming. Why? Well they have been on the planet earth way longer then we have and Global warming, like in todays world has never been seen before. Especially at such a fast rate. I also have another question, Do the plants or trees produce more oxygen then the bacteria does carbon? I feel like they would, because they are bigger organisms then the bacteria in the soil. But then again there are millions of bacteria. So in my opinion to your blog, I feel like the information could be very useful and very informative. I also feel like this would apply more to deforestation because then we have all these microbes in the soil, but no trees or plants to take in that carbon and make oxygen. Which would cause an imbalance; more carbon, less oxygen. Like you said all this carbon is just feeding these microbes which make more carbon.
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