New Cornell research suggests an economically viable model to scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to thwart runaway, point-of-no-return global warming.
The researchers propose using a "bioenergy-biochar system" that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in an environmental pinch, until other removal methods become economically feasible and in regions where other methods are impractical. Their work appeared in the Oct. 21 edition of Nature Communications.
"If we continue on current emissions trajectories, we will need to draw down excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere if we're going to avoid catastrophic levels of climate change. We're offering a mitigation model that can do that. It's not a silver bullet, but it may be among the tools we need in a portfolio of carbon dioxide mitigation strategies," said Dominic Woolf, Cornell research associate in crop and soil sciences and lead author on "Optimal Bioenergy Power Generation for Climate Change Mitigation With or Without Carbon Sequestration."
Among the recent ideas to cleanse the atmosphere of carbon is to plant huge regions of forests – called reforestation or afforestation. Scientists have also considered bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), in which bioenergy power plants capture their own carbon dioxide emissions, and then store them underground or in the ocean. BECCS is very expensive and impractical now, but could become a more viable option toward the end of this century, according to this research.
The new study suggests a system using biochar, carbonized plant matter made by charring organic material – burning without using air – in a process called pyrolysis. The bioenergy-biochar system, called BEBCS, is stable and lowers sequestration losses when carbon is captured. After the organic matter is turned into carbon-sequestering biochar, it can be placed into the soil as a fertilizer substitute and improve crop production.
Although it has been omitted from major atmospheric mitigation scenarios until now, the new model shows that including biochar in a suite of options unlocks the ability to achieve cost-effective carbon dioxide removal earlier and deeper than would otherwise be possible.
Woolf sounds a hopeful note: "We need a full suite of mitigation strategies. It's quite possible to scrub the atmosphere and remove carbon dioxide to avoid runaway climate change – where we could transition to manageable climate change," he said. "This isn't purely about advocating completely for biochar, but we need to recognize that we have technologies in place that can help our atmosphere, and we should create an optimal portfolio for ideas."
Explore further:
Using soil to lock up carbon could help offset global warming
More information:
Dominic Woolf et al. Optimal bioenergy power generation for climate change mitigation with or without carbon sequestration, Nature Communications (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13160
MR166
barakn
jeffensley
gkam
Whydening Gyre
Where is that evidence?
And used by whom?
gkam
Look up Jock Gill, the interesting polymath who worked with it. He has provided the background, among others, I assume.
Or look it up yourself, as I just did. Go to http://www.css.co...ain.html and to the readings.
Whydening Gyre
A little on edge today, I see, George...:-)
gkam
I do not know why people would assume someone using his real name here would intentionally lie. Is it because they do not think it out? Is lying in defense of a charge their automatic reaction?
I left myself open to attack by those who hide their identities, and therefore have no credibility. Once again, I thought this would be a more professional and moderated forum. Instead, it is infected with folk who apparently do not have satisfactory lives and are pissed off about it. Or they are playing "games" as "otto" admitted he is here to do.
Let's get back to the topic
Whydening Gyre
My name is pronounced gyre, just not spelled that way....
gkam
Captain Stumpy
2- i proved you intentionally lied, or did you forget?
in fact, i proved it not only with the stolen valor claims, but also with regard to your engineer claims... let me repeat a quote of your own when you finally admitted it http://phys.org/n...oad.html
i don't care if you publish pics of yourself, or that you post anything
i do, however, care that you intentionally lie, repeatedly, while not being able to provide evidence or references for your claims, be they nuclear, engineering or otherwise
gkam
You started this nasty battle when you got your little feelings hurt, and have been trashing me ever since. When I proved your attacks as lies, you got madder. Now, you are like Ira and otto, distorting, twisting, and perverting everything you can to get even. Sorry, but you did it to yourself.
Grow the hell up.
Caliban
This was discovered in the Amazon basin only just a few years ago, when it was noticed that the soil in certain regions appeared different in color, composition and characteristics than other contiguous soils in this Laterite-dominated environment.
I'm feeling a bit too lazy to provide any citations here and now, but can and will assure all of you that it is so, and to express my shock that you aren't already aware of this fact, as the findings(or at least some of them) were reported right here on PORG.
Whydening Gyre
Thanks, Cal. Googled it (couldn't sleep). Lots of articles...
Captain Stumpy
quit changing the subject sure, so long as you don't mind if i reciprocate
you don't remember what you told me, do you? LOL
... well, unlike you, i don't delete e-mails
i also know how to post proof and link evidence for my claims, you idiot, so consider that one
you have yet to post anything but your OPINION, and usually it is vastly different than reality and the science (see my links above for proof of that one)
so, per your own request... you get the idea, right?
yup
reported!
Captain Stumpy
period
just because you say it doesn't mean it's true... and i never attacked you, idiot boy.
you got pissed because i wouldn't take your side in a conversation you were blatantly wrong about - and i can prove that one
http://phys.org/n...ess.html
so again, where is your proof?
other than your "claims" of proof... ya got nothing and have yet to provide any real scientific anything anywhere
Most of your posts are slogans regurgitated as a narcissistic sociopath geriatric in the hopes fo getting attention
last post unless you actually provide evidence for your claims
otherwise i will simply downrate your post and then report it for being pseudoscience and bullsh*t without evidence ... per your own requests to "clean up the site" and post science
EnricM
Why don't you just block him?
I just see the name and a message that says "ingored user". Trolls die out like ticks when they aren't fed ;)
gkam
It was a real revelation for me as well to see the use of it ages ago in the Amazon Basin.
TrollBane
TheGhostofOtto1923
Duh.
You have just stated your primary cognitive disconnect. And a very profound one it is.
yemethus