All children are fascinated by farts. So are atmospheric chemists. Farts are produced by anaerobic (without oxygen) digestion in the intestine. About 1% of flatulence is composed of malodorous, volatile sulfur gases, derived from theContinue reading
Category: biogeochemistry
biogeochemistry
William Schlesinger
agriculture, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, carbon sequestration, faculty, natural habitat
agriculture, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, carbon sequestration, faculty, natural habitat
What Makes a Healthy Ecosystem?
[We need] a report card that grades plant production, soil organic matter, biodiversity and nutrient balance against our best measures of what they would be in a world without humans.
Potassium
Potassium…. may emerge as problematic…. as large areas of highly weathered tropical soils….are converted to agriculture.
Evaluating the Gas We Pass
Flooding can convert soils from a methane sink to a methane source to the atmosphere
William Schlesinger
agriculture, biogeochemistry, faculty, lakes and streams, water, water pollution, wetlands
agriculture, biogeochemistry, faculty, lakes and streams, water, water pollution, wetlands
The importance of small streams
EPA is recommending abandonment of the Clean Water Rule, despite the plethora of science showing the value of small wetlands to wildlife and water quality.
William Schlesinger
biodiversity, biogeochemistry, carbon sequestration, climate, energy, environmental policy, faculty, forests, renewable energy
biodiversity, biogeochemistry, carbon sequestration, climate, energy, environmental policy, faculty, forests, renewable energy
Are wood pellets a green fuel?
production of wood pellets for fuel is likely to put more CO2 in the atmosphere and maintain less biodiversity on the land during the next several decades.
Humus
If we are to store carbon in soils, better management of agricultural lands might be one avenue to pursue.
William Schlesinger
air pollution, biogeochemistry, faculty, lakes and streams, recycling, waste, water, water pollution
air pollution, biogeochemistry, faculty, lakes and streams, recycling, waste, water, water pollution
Poop
Poop is a resource that should be used more efficiently.
Methane revisited
The decline in δ13C to a more negative value is not compatible with the idea that fossil fuels are the source of rising methane in the atmosphere.
William Schlesinger
air pollution, biogeochemistry, energy, environmental health, faculty, toxicology
air pollution, biogeochemistry, energy, environmental health, faculty, toxicology
Pennies from Heaven
Emissions of vanadium to the atmosphere parallel the increased use of heavy oil and are now nearly twice the sum of all natural sources combined.