Trees are Trying Forests Have Limited


Powers to Save Us


Forests have a finite capacity to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a recent study from Northern Arizona University. Results published in the online journal New Phytologist illustrate how today’s rising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2


) might alter the carbon and nitrogen content of ecosystems. In contrast to expectations, re-


While plants did contain more carbon in the presence of higher CO2


levels,


the soil lost carbon content due to microbial decomposition. These factors essentially canceled each other out, signifying that nature cannot entirely self-correct against climate change.


Marine Maneuvers Harnessing the Ocean’s


Power Potential


The U.S. Depart- ment of Energy (DOE) is investing $16 million on 17 tidal and wave projects to sustain- ably and efficiently capture energy from waves, tides and currents. The proj-


ects will also help gather crucial data on how these devices interact with the surrounding environment. The DOE will also spend $13.5 mil- lion on eight projects to help U.S. com- panies build durable, efficient wave and tidal devices that reduce overall costs and maximize the amount of energy captured. Specifically, the projects will focus on developing new components and software that predicts ocean condi- tions and adjusts device settings accord- ingly to optimize power production.


Source: Ecoseed.org natural awakenings April 2014 27


search over an 11-year period showed that ecosystem carbon uptake was not significantly increased by high CO2


.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80