ScienceDaily: Acid Rain News

Microbes capture, store, and release nitrogen to feed reef-building coral

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:54:54 EDT

Microscopic algae that live within reef-forming corals scoop up available nitrogen, store the excess in crystal form, and slowly feed it to the coral as needed, according to a study published in mBio.

Corals turn to algae for stored food when times get tough

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:54:54 EDT

Researchers present new evidence for the crucial role of algae in the survival of their coral hosts. Ultra-high resolution images reveal that the algae temporarily store nutrients as crystals, building up reserves for when supplies run low.

And the beat goes on...: The reliable heartbeat of hibernators

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:08:08 EDT

At the current temperatures, all hibernators have probably emerged from their winter hibernation and are enjoying the warm weather. However, this is quite different during the cold season. Many small mammals such as marmots, hedgehogs, bats and some hamsters, and even some birds have a particular skill: they can induce a state of inactivity and reduced metabolic rate to significantly lower their energy consumption when food becomes limited and ambient temperatures drop.

Bizarre bone worms emit acid to feast on whale skeletons: Bone-melting substance drills opening for worms to access nutrients

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:19:19 EDT

Only within the past 12 years have marine biologists come to learn about the eye-opening characteristics of mystifying sea worms that live and thrive on the skeletons of whale carcasses. Now, scientists at describe how Osedax, mouthless and gutless "bone worms," excrete a bone-melting acid to gain entry to the nutrients within whale bones.

Less rainfall expected for the Hawaiian Islands

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

Almost imperceptibly, rainfall over the Hawaiian Islands has been declining since 1978, and this trend is likely to continue with global warming to the end of this century, according to scientists.

Nitrogen has key role in estimating carbon dioxide emissions from land use change

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:07:07 EDT

A new global-scale modeling study that takes into account nitrogen -- a key nutrient for plants -- estimates that carbon emissions from human activities on land were 40 percent higher in the 1990s than in studies that did not account for nitrogen. Plant regrowth -- and therefore carbon assimilation by plants -- is limited by nitrogen availability, causing other studies to overestimate regrowth and underestimate net emissions from the harvest-regrowth cycle.

Environmental policies matter for growing megacities

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

A new study shows clean-air regulations have dramatically reduced acid rain in the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea over the past 30 years, but the opposite is true in fast-growing East Asian megacities, possibly due to lax antipollution rules or lack of enforcement.

Decreased water flow may be trade-off for more productive forest

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:06:06 EDT

As the need for carbon sequestration, biofuels, and other forest products increases, study suggests that there might be unintended consequences to enhancing ecosystems using fertilization.

Breakthrough could lead to cheaper, more sustainable chemical production

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:19:19 EDT

A new advance could enable the production of an important commodity chemical using carbon dioxide as a carbon source instead of petroleum. Carbon dioxide is basically free, and something the planet currently has in excess. Activating carbon dioxide for the production of commodity chemicals could be a way make them more cheaply and sustainably.

Biochemical engineering: Waste not, want not

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:17:17 EDT

A simple fermentation treatment can convert a by-product of biofuel production into a valuable chemical feedstock for a wide range of biomedical products.

Key component of China's pollution problem: Scale of nitrogen's effect on people and ecosystems revealed

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 EST

It's no secret that China is faced with some of the world's worst pollution. Until now, however, information on the magnitude, scope and impacts of a major contributor to that pollution -- human-caused nitrogen emissions -- was lacking.

Could the humble sea urchin hold the key to carbon capture?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:08:08 EST

The discovery that sea urchins use nickel particles to harness carbon dioxide from the sea could be the key to capturing tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Experts have discovered that in the presence of a nickel catalyst, carbon dioxide can be converted rapidly and cheaply into the harmless, solid mineral, calcium carbonate.

Planting trees may not reverse climate change, but it will help locally

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:06:06 EST

Afforestation, planting trees in an area where there have previously been no trees, can reduce the effect of climate change by cooling temperate regions, a new study finds.

Corn cobs eyed for bioenergy production

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:10:10 EST

Corn crop residues are often left on harvested fields to protect soil quality, but they could become an important raw material in cellulosic ethanol production. USDA research indicates that soil quality would not decline if post-harvest corn cob residues were removed from fields.

Breakthrough: How salt stops plant growth

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:37:37 EST

Until now it has not been clear how salt, a scourge to agriculture, halts the growth of the plant-root system. Researcher found that not all types of roots are equally inhibited. They discovered that an inner layer of tissue in the branching roots is sensitive to salt and activates a stress hormone, which stops root growth. The study is a boon for understanding the stress response and for developing salt-resistant crops.

'Rock dissolving' method of geoengineering to mitigate climate change would not be easy

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:20:20 EST

The benefits and side effects of dissolving particles in our ocean’s surfaces to increase the marine uptake of carbon dioxide, and therefore reduce the excess amount of it in the atmosphere, have been analyzed in a new study. Researchers calculate that if three gigatons of olivine were deposited into the oceans each year, it could compensate for only around nine per cent of present day anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

Climate change's effects on temperate rain forests surprisingly complex

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:23:23 EST

Longer, warmer growing seasons associated with a changing climate are altering growing conditions in temperate rain forests, but not all plant species will be negatively affected, according to new research.

Lower nitrogen losses with perennial biofuel crops

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:10:10 EST

Perennial biofuel crops such as miscanthus, whose high yields have led them to be considered an eventual alternative to corn in producing ethanol, are now shown to have another beneficial characteristic -- the ability to reduce the escape of nitrogen in the environment. In a 4-year study that compared miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species to typical corn-corn-soybean rotations, each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen losses, with miscanthus having the greatest yield.

Death of hemlock trees yields new life for hardwood trees, but at what cost to the ecosystem?

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:39:39 EST

Due to the introduction of exotic pests and pathogens, tree species are being eliminated one by one from forest ecosystems. In some cases, scientists can observe immediately how their loss affects the environment, whereas in other cases, creative puzzle solving and analysis reveal unexpected repercussions. In the case of the loss of the hemlock tree, a landscape and ecosystem ecologist uncovered a surprising benefit to hardwood species.

Clean air: New paints break down nitrogen oxides

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:34:34 EST

Surfaces with photo-catalytic characteristics clean the air off nitrogen oxides and other health-endangering substances. Using a new test procedure, researchers can find out how the coatings behave during a long-term test.

Onion soaks up heavy metal: Bioremediation with waste food

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:23:23 EST

Onion and garlic waste from the food industry could be used to mop up hazardous heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, mercury and tin in contaminated materials, according to a new research.

Greenland ice sheet carries evidence of increased atmospheric acidity

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:27:27 EST

Studies have shown decreasing levels of the isotope nitrogen-15 in core samples from Greenland ice starting around the time of the Industrial Revolution. New research suggests the decline corresponds to increased acidity in the atmosphere.

Haymeadows are good for the environment say researchers

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:43:43 EST

Traditional haymeadows are much better at supporting biodiversity and preventing water pollution than intensively farmed fields according to new research. This is because haymeadows lose five times less nitrogen from the soil, which is needed for plant growth. However, nitrogen becomes a pollutant if it leaches into rivers and contaminates the water supply.

Carbon dioxide could reduce crop yields

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:49:49 EST

The carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere continues to climb and heat up the climate. The gas is, however, indispensable for plants, as they use the carbon it provides to form glucose and other important substances. Therefore, the more carbon dioxide the better? The equation is unfortunately not as simple as that. The plants, which ensure our basic food supply today, have not been bred for vertical growth but for short stalks and high grain yields. Scientists have now discovered that an increase in carbon dioxide levels could cancel out the beneficial effects of dwarf varieties.

Integrating science and policy to address the impacts of air pollution

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:32:32 EST

New research examines how science and policy address air pollution effects on human health and ecosystems, and climate change in Europe.

Green chemistry: Waste from palm oil extraction can be converted into useful sugar

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:26:26 EST

The waste plant materials remaining from palm oil extraction processes can now be converted into a useful sugar.

Cover crops, towards a sustainable agriculture

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:43:43 EST

Researchers have demonstrated that replacing the traditional fallow with cover crops can reduce nitrate pollution without increasing the salinity or reducing yield.

Indirect effects of climate change could alter landscapes

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:56:56 EST

Studies of a northern hardwood forest in New England point to unexpected ecological trends resulting from documented changes in the climate over 50 years. Some of the changes now taking place can be expected to alter the composition of the forest and the wildlife present. The observations may have implications for other northern forests and suggest directions for future research and monitoring.

Ingredient in diarrhea medicine leads to sustainable new farm fertilizer

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:38:38 EST

The search for a sustainable slow-release fertilizer -- a key to sustaining global food production at a time of burgeoning population growth -- has led scientists to an ingredient used in some diarrhea medicines. They describe use of the substance, attapulgite, as a "carrier" for plant nutrients.

Earth on acid: Present & future of global acidification

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:27:27 EST

Climate change and extreme weather events grab the headlines, but there is another, lesser known, global change underway on land, in the seas, and in the air: acidification.

Massive volcanic eruption puts past climate and people in perspective

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:46:46 EST

The largest volcanic eruption on Earth in the past millions of years took place in Indonesia 74,000 years ago and researchers can now link the colossal eruption with the global climate and the effects on early humans.

NASA maps how nutrients affect plant productivity

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:51:51 EDT

A new analysis has estimated how much the growth of plants worldwide is limited by the amount of nutrients available in their soil. The maps produced from the research will be particularly useful in evaluating how much carbon dioxide Earth's ecosystems may be able to soak up as greenhouse gas levels increase.

Excess nitrogen fertiliser increasing warming in China

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:40:40 EDT

Halving the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used in certain areas of China would substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions without affecting crop productivity and the area's natural carbon sink, according to a new study.

Do Australia's giant fire-dependent trees belong in the rainforest?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:40:40 EDT

Australia's giant eucalyptus trees are the tallest flowering plants on earth, yet their unique relationship with fire makes them a huge puzzle for ecologists. Now the first global assessment of these giants seeks to end a century of debate over the species' classification, a debate which may determine their future.

Research shows legume trees can fertilize and stabilize maize fields, generate higher yields

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT

Inserting rows of "fertilizer trees" into maize fields, known as agroforestry, can help farmers across sub-Saharan Africa cope with the impacts of drought and degraded soils, according to a 12-year-long study.

Too little nitrogen may restrain plants' carbon storage capability

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:19:19 EDT

Plants' ability to absorb increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air may have been overestimated, a new study shows. According to the study, even though plants absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and actually can benefit from higher levels of it, they may not get enough of the nutrients they need from typical soils to absorb as much CO2 as scientists had previously estimated.

Hurricane Irene polluted Catskills watershed

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:17:17 EDT

The water quality of lakes and coastal systems will be altered if hurricanes intensify in a warming world, according to a new study.

Remarkable enzyme points the way to reducing nitric acid use in industry

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:35:35 EDT

An enzyme in the bacterium that causes potato scab could help create new, environmentally-benign biocatalysts with the potential to cut use of the highly corrosive chemical nitric acid.

Carbon dioxide from water pollution, as well as air pollution, may adversely impact oceans

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:56:56 EDT

Carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the oceans as a result of water pollution by nutrients -- a major source of this greenhouse gas that gets little public attention -- is enhancing the unwanted changes in ocean acidity due to atmospheric increases in CO2. The changes may already be impacting commercial fish and shellfish populations, according to new data and model predictions.

Parched soils trigger more storms

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:14:14 EDT

Afternoon storms are more likely to develop when soils are parched, according to a new study which examined hydrological processes across six continents. The results have important implications for the future development of global weather and climate models which may currently be simulating an excessive number of droughts.

Summer rain more likely over drier soils, new satellite data show

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:29:29 EDT

Where does it rain on a hot day's afternoon? New satellite data show that soil moisture plays an important role. It influences precipitation in a way which is quite different from what models have predicted so far.

Increase in metal concentrations in Rocky Mountain watershed tied to warming temperatures

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 15:28:28 EDT

Warmer air temperatures since the 1980s may explain significant increases in zinc and other metal concentrations of ecological concern in a Rocky Mountain watershed, reports a new study.

Turf study to monitor runoff, establish fertilizer management practices

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:14:14 EDT

Improperly applied fertilizer to newly placed sod may result in nutrient runoff into the water supply, but just when is the best time to apply fertilizer and what kind is the best for new turf?

Changes in water chemistry leave lake critters defenseless

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:18:18 EDT

Changes in Canadian lake water chemistry have left small water organisms vulnerable to ambush by predators, according to a new study. Low calcium levels affect the exoskeleton development of water fleas, which are food for fish and keep lakes clean. Plankton in the world's oceans may also be affected.

Loss of tropical forests reduces rain

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:50:50 EDT

Deforestation can have a significant effect on tropical rainfall, new research confirms. The findings have potentially devastating impacts for people living in and near the Amazon and Congo forests. Continued destruction of these forests would reduce rain across the Amazon basin by up to a fifth (21 percent) in the dry season by 2050.

Cooled coal emissions would clean air and lower health and climate-change costs

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:21:21 EDT

Refrigerating coal-plant emissions would reduce levels of dangerous chemicals that pour into the air -- including carbon dioxide by more than 90 percent -- at a cost of 25 percent efficiency, according to a simple math-driven formula.

Global warming causes more extreme shifts of the Southern Hemisphere's largest rain band, study suggests

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:54:54 EDT

South Pacific countries will experience more extreme floods and droughts, in response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new article.

Marine research in the Brazilian rain forest: Slash and burn practice for centuries as source of stable carbon compounds in the oceans

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:52:52 EDT

Until recent decades the Atlantic Rainforest covered a large area of today’s Brazil from Amazonas to present-day Argentina. In the 1970s, after years of deforestation, this rain forest was almost completely destroyed, mainly replaced by cattle pastures. This study reveals an unexpected aspect of deforestation.

New atmospheric compound tied to climate change, human health

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:27:27 EDT

Scientists have discovered a surprising new chemical compound in Earth's atmosphere that reacts with sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid, which is known to have significant impacts on climate and health. The new compound, a type of carbonyl oxide, is formed from the reaction of ozone with alkenes, which are a family of hydrocarbons with both natural and human-made sources.

Gas from pollutants, forest fires at potentially toxic levels

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:48:48 EDT

Forest fires and emission of air pollutants, which include fumes from vehicles running on diesel and slow burning of coal and charcoal, release isocyanic acid in the troposphere. In 2011, scientists first detected isocyanic acid in the ambient atmosphere at levels that are toxic to human populations; at concentrations exceeding 1 parts-per-billion by volume (ppbv), human beings could experience tissue decay when exposed to the toxin.

Rising carbon dioxide in atmosphere also speeds carbon loss from forest soils

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:58:58 EDT

Elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide accelerate carbon cycling and soil carbon loss in forests, biologists have found. The new evidence supports an emerging view that although forests remove a substantial amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, much of the carbon is being stored in living woody biomass rather than as dead organic matter in soils.

Acid-wielding worms drill through bones at the bottom of the sea

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:48:48 EDT

Tiny "bone-devouring worms," known to both eat and inhabit dead whale skeletons and other bones on the sea floor, have a unique ability to release bone-melting acid, scientists at have recently discovered.

Pitcher plant uses rain drops to capture prey

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:40:40 EDT

During heavy rain, the lid of Nepenthes gracilis pitchers acts like a springboard, catapulting insects that seek shelter on its underside directly into the fluid-filled pitcher, new research has found.

Potential Iceland eruption could pump acid into European airspace

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:48:48 EDT

A modern recurrence of an extraordinary type of volcanic eruption in Iceland could inject large quantities of hazardous gases into North Atlantic and European flight corridors, potentially for months at a time, a new study suggests. Using computer simulations, researchers are investigating the likely atmospheric effects if a "flood lava" eruption took place in Iceland today.

Mosquitoes fly in rain thanks to low mass

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:55:55 EDT

Even rain can't deter mosquitoes. The blood-sucking insect can fly in a downpour because of its strong exoskeletons and low mass render it impervious to falling drops. Researchers determined this using high-speed videography.

It took Earth ten million years to recover from greatest mass extinction

Sun, 27 May 2012 15:38:38 EDT

It took some 10 million years for Earth to recover from the greatest mass extinction of all time, latest research has revealed.

'Warming hole' delayed climate change over eastern United States

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:51:51 EDT

Climate scientists have discovered that particulate pollution in the late 20th century created a "warming hole" over the eastern United States -- that is, a cold patch where the effects of global warming were temporarily obscured. The findings have implications for industrial nations (like China) that have not yet tightened air quality regulations.

Advanced power-grid research finds low-cost, low-carbon future in Western U.S.

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:36:36 EDT

The least expensive way for the Western US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other sources of energy that may include nuclear power, according to a new study.

Oil sands pollution comparable to a large power plant

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:46:46 EST

In the first look at the overall effect of air pollution from the excavation of oil sands, also called tar sands, in Alberta, Canada, scientists used satellites to measure nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emitted from the industry.

First plants caused ice ages, new research reveals

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:49:49 EST

New research reveals how the arrival of the first plants 470 million years ago triggered a series of ice ages. The research reveals the effects that the first land plants had on the climate during the Ordovician Period, which ended 444 million years ago. During this period the climate gradually cooled, leading to a series of 'ice ages.' This global cooling was caused by a dramatic reduction in atmospheric carbon, which this research now suggests was triggered by the arrival of plants.