CO2 Conversion by a Metal-Coordinated Single Amino Acid Carbonic Anhydrase Enzyme Mimic.

Predicting future carbon (C) dynamics in grassland ecosystems requires knowledge of how grazing and global climate change (e.g., warming, elevated CO2 , increased precipitation, drought, and N fertilization) interact to influence C storage and release. Here, we synthesized data from 223 grassland studies to quantify the individual and interactive effects of herbivores and climate change on ecosystem C pools and soil respiration (Rs). Our results showed that grazing overrode global climate change factors in regulating grassland C storage and release (i.e., Rs). Specifically, grazing significantly decreased aboveground plant C pool (APCP), belowground plant C pool (BPCP), soil C pool (SCP), and Rs by 19.1%, 6.4%, 3.1%, and 4.6%, respectively, while overall effects of all global climate change factors increased APCP, BPCP, and Rs by 6.5%, 15.3%, and 3.4% but had no significant effect on SCP. However, the combined effects of grazing with global climate change factors also significantly decreased APCP, SCP, and Rs by 4.0%, 4.7%, and 2.7%, respectively but had no effect on BPCP. Most of the interactions between grazing and global climate change factors on APCP, BPCP, SCP, and Rs were additive instead of synergistic or antagonistic. Our findings highlight the dominant effects of grazing on C storage and Rs when compared with the suite of global climate change factors. Therefore, incorporating the dominant effect of herbivore grazing into Earth System Models is necessary to accurately predict climate-grassland feedbacks in the Anthropocene.

Alpine ecosystems are sensitive to global climate change-factors, which directly or indirectly affect the soil microbial biomass stoichiometry. In this paper, we have compared the soil microbial biomass stoichiometry ratios of alpine ecosystems using the global average values. In the comparison, the responses and mechanisms of soil microbial biomass stoichiometry to nitrogen deposition, altered precipitation, warming, and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the alpine ecosystem were considered. The alpine ecosystem has a higher soil microbial-biomass-carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (MBC:MBN) than the global average. In contrast, the soil microbial-biomass-nitrogen-to-phosphorus (MBN:MBP) and carbon-to-phosphorus ratios (MBC:MBP) varied considerably in different types of alpine ecosystems. When compared with the global average values of these ratios, no uniform pattern was found. In response to the increase in nitrogen (N) deposition, on the one hand, microbes will adopt strategies to regulate extracellular enzyme synthesis and excrete excess elements to maintain stoichiometric balance. On the other hand, microbes may also alter their stoichiometry by storing excess N in their bodies to adapt to the increased N in the environment. Thus, a decrease in MBC:MBN and an increase in MBN:MBP are observed. In addition, N deposition directly and indirectly affects the soil fungal-to-bacterial ratio (F:B), which in turn changes the soil microbial biomass stoichiometry. For warming, there is no clear pattern in the response of soil microbial biomass stoichiometry in alpine ecosystems. The results show diverse decreasing, increasing, and unchanging patterns. Under reduced precipitation, microbial communities in alpine ecosystems typically shift to a fungal dominance. The latter community supports a greater carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) and thus an increased soil MBC:MBN. However, increased precipitation enhances N effectiveness and exacerbates the leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phosphorus (P) from alpine ecosystem soils. As a result, a decrease in the soil MBC:MBN and an increase in the soil MBN:MBP are evident. Elevated atmospheric CO2 usually has little effect on the soil MBC:MBN in alpine ecosystems, mainly because of two reasons. These are: (i) N is the main limiting factor in alpine ecosystems, and (ii) alpine ecosystems accumulate higher soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbes and preferentially decompose “old” carbon (C) stocks. The response of soil microbial stoichiometry to global climate change factors in alpine ecosystems is diverse, and the impact pathways are complex. Future studies need to focus on the combined effects of multiple global climate change factors on microbial stoichiometry and the mechanism of microbial stoichiometric balance.

Press Release The Sun's Influence is an Important Factor in Global Climate Change – However, the rapid warming during the last 20 years is dominated by other factors

Abstract: The potential effects of naturally occurring gas hydrate on humans are not understood with certainty, but enough information has been acquired over the past 30 years to make preliminary assessments possible. Three major issues are gas hydrate as (1) a potential energy resource, (2) a factor in global climate change, and (3) a submarine geohazard. The methane content is estimated to be between 1015 to 1017 m3 at STP and the worldwide distribution in outer continental margins of oceans and in polar regions are significant features of gas hydrate. However, its immediate development as an energy resource is not likely because there are various geological constraints and difficult technological problems that must be solved before economic recovery of methane from hydrate can be achieved. The role of gas hydrate in global climate change is uncertain. For hydrate methane to be an effective greenhouse gas, it must reach the atmosphere. Yet there are many obstacles to the transfer of methane from hydrate to the atmosphere. Rates of gas hydrate dissociation and the integrated rates of release and destruction of the methane in the geo/hydro/atmosphere are not adequately understood. Gas hydrate as a submarine geohazard, however, is of immediate and increasing importance to humans as our industrial society moves to exploit seabed resources at ever‐greater depths in the waters of our coastal oceans. Human activities and installations in regions of gas‐hydrate occurrence must take into account the presence of gas hydrate and deal with the consequences of its presence.

Natural gas hydrates occur world-wide in polar regions, usually associated with onshore and offshore permafrost, and in sediment of outer continental and insular margins. The total amount of methane in gas hydrates probably exceeds 10 19 g of methane carbon. Three aspects of gas hydrates are important: their fossil fuel resource potential; their role as a submarine geohazard; and their effects on global climate change. Because gas hydrates represent a large amount of methane within 2000 m of the Earth’s surface, they are considered to be an unconventional, unproven source of fossil fuel. Because gas hydrates are metastable, changes of pressure and temperature affect their stability. Destabilized gas hydrates beneath the sea floor lead to geological hazards such as submarine slumps and slides, examples of which are found world-wide. Destabilized gas hydrates may also affect climate through the release of methane, a ‘greenhouse’ gas, which may enhance global warming and be a factor in global climate change.

Natural gas hydrates occur worldwide in polar regions, normally associated with onshore and offshore permafrost, and in sediment of outer continental and insular margins. The total amount of methane in gas hydrates likely exceeds 1019 g of methane carbon. Three aspects of gas hydrates are important: their fossil fuel resource potential, their role as a submarine geohazard, and their effects on global climate change. Because gas hydrates represent a large amount of methane within 2000 m of the Earth's surface, they are considered to be an unconventional, unproven source of fossil fuel. Because gas hydrates are metastable, changes of pressure and temperature affect their stability. Destabilized gas hydrates beneath the seafloor lead to geologic hazards such as submarine slumps and slides, examples of which are found worldwide. Destabilized gas hydrates may also affect climate through the release of methane, a “greenhouse” gas, which may enhance global warming and be a factor in global climate change.

Various previous chapters have been concerned with several aspects of the oceanic factor in global climate change and it is not intended to repeat that material in this chapter. This chapter, therefore, will concentrate on practical applications of satellite data to marine science in the general context of global climate change.

Problem. Global climate changes, which are observed over the last decades, influencing the formation of modern hydrological regime of the Kuyalnik Liman. In the paper for the detection of major trends of these changes the natural climatic factors (temperature, precipitation) are evaluated.
 The purpose of investigation is assessment of changes in major climatic factors of flow formation, namely precipitation and air temperature for the year, warm and cold periods on the basis of meteorological stations data within the catchment the Kuyalnik Liman and adjacent areas during the period 1900-2012.
 Research methods are methods of statistical processing of the initial information. Analysis of changes in climatic factors was occurred on the base of comparing data before and after year 1989 (beginning of observations - 1988, 1989-2012).
 Main results. The average annual temperature for the period 1989-2012 on the all the weather stations are increased from 0,8°C (Rozdelnaya) to 1,1°C (Odessa, Lyubashevka) compared with the previous observational period (1951-1988). During the warm season - from April to October – on all the weather stations average temperature are increased on 0,7°C, on the station Odessa - on 1,0°C. In the period 1989-2012 from November to March on all the weather stations the average temperature are increased on 1,0 - 2,0°C (relative to the previous estimated range).
 On chronological graphs of average year temperatures, in the warm and cold seasons upward trend in air temperatures are marked. In the cold period transition in average temperatures from negative to positive means are eventuated.
 Data review on all the meteorological stations revealed that temperature trends for the year, warm and cold periods are characterized by statistically significant correlation coefficients.
 For the average annual precipitation for the period 1989-2012 statistically significant trends are not found. In the cold period reducing of the amounts of precipitation are dominated, in the warm period growth tendencies are observed.
 Conclusions. Trends in changes of climatic factors on the watershed the Kuyalnik Liman indicate the unfavorable conditions of the flow formation. Rising of air temperatures of cold season promote the thaws formation and reduce the discharge and volume of spring floods. Increasing of air temperatures of warm period led to growth of evaporation from the land surface, especially from water surface of reservoirs. These losses are not recompense by the increasing of precipitation. So, on the catchment the Kuyalnik Liman climatic conditions that reduce the water resources are formed.

The interaction between aerosols and clouds is a relevant factor in global, regional and local climate change. The scientific community is trying to provide relevant theoretical and experimental benchmarks on aerosol loading, cloud formation patterns and trends. Aerosol–cloud interactions play a vital role in global climate change and are associated with one of the greatest uncertainties. In recent decades, due to its unique geographical location, the North Indian Ocean (NIO) has been gaining significant attention among scientific communities. Deep understanding of aerosols and their interaction with clouds in this region is very important both regionally and globally. The paper provides both an overview of the most used methods and tools used in experimental approaches in the field, as well as an analysis methodology regarding aerosol-cloud interaction scenarios.

A review of microbial electrosynthesis applied to carbon dioxide capture and conversion: The basic principles, electrode materials, and bioproducts

Chemical Controls on the Dissolution Kinetics of Calcite in Seawater

''Conventional'' waste landfills emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, in quantities such that landfill methane is a major factor in global climate change. Controlled landfilling is a novel approach to manage landfills for rapid completion of total gas generation, maximizing gas capture and minimizing emissions of methane to the atmosphere. With controlled landfilling, methane generation is accelerated and brought to much earlier completion by improving conditions for biological processes (principally moisture levels) in the landfill. Gas recovery efficiency approaches 100% through use of surface membrane cover over porous gas recovery layers operated at slight vacuum. A field demonstration project's results at the Yolo County Central Landfill near Davis, California are, to date, highly encouraging. Two major controlled landfilling benefits would be the reduction of landfill methane emissions to minuscule levels, and the recovery of greater amounts of landfill methane energy in much shorter times than with conventional landfill practice. With the large amount of US landfill methane generated, and greenhouse potency of methane, better landfill methane control can play a substantial role in reduction of US greenhouse gas emissions.

This article addresses the important ecological issue of quantitatively determining greenhouse gas emissions – nitrous oxide – from municipal wastewater treatment facilities, which is a factor in global climate change. Data from scientific research indicate that deep biological treatment of nitrogen compounds at wastewater treatment facilities significantly contributes to the gross emissions of nitrous oxide from industrial facilities. Direct measurements of nitrous oxide emissions from biological treatment facilities in Ukraine have not been conducted. The aim of this study is to assess the potential emissions of the greenhouse gas N2O during the biological treatment of municipal wastewater in aeration tanks operating under the traditional, non-zoned scheme in Ukraine, which ensures deep nitrification. The study was conducted at municipal wastewater treatment facilities equipped with 3-channel aeration tanks. The process of wastewater treatment in aeration tanks operating under the traditional non-zoned scheme is fully aerobic and characterized by deep nitrification. Measurements of hydrochemical indicators of wastewater composition (BOD5, N–NH4, N–NO2, and N–NO3, Kjeldahl nitrogen) were carried out using certified methods in an accredited laboratory. It was found that biological treatment of municipal wastewater exclusively under aerobic conditions does not effectively remove nitrates from the wastewater. The nitrogen balance in incoming and treated wastewater was calculated, and the formation of N2O in the processes of suppressed denitrification was quantitatively determined. The consumption of nitrogen for the formation of excess activated sludge biomass, the efficiency of nitrification to nitrates, and the probable formation of N2O as a result of inhibition of the final heterotrophic denitrification reaction (reduction of N2O to N2) were calculated. The results showed that the maximum value of the N2O emission coefficient (the ratio of formed N2O to the concentration of total nitrogen entering the treatment process) at the studied facility could range from 3.24 % to 6.47 %, which is consistent with direct measurement data conducted at operating treatment facilities by foreign scientists. The study results confirm that modern technologies for deep biological wastewater treatment should consider not only effective removal of biogenic elements but also the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions.

The present and potential future effect of global warming on the ecosystem has brought climate change to the forefront of scientific inquiry and discussion. For our investigation, we selected two organisms, one from cyanobacteria and one from a cereal plant to determine how climate change may impact these biological systems. The study involved understanding the physiological and adaptive responses at both the genetic and protein function levels to counteract environmental stresses. An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is a key factor in global climate change and can lead to alterations in ocean chemistry. Cyanobacteria are important, ancient and ubiquitous organisms that can aid in the study of the biological response to increasing carbon dioxide. Climate predictions estimate that by the year 2100 atmospheric carbon dioxide will exceed 700 ppm. In our first study, we looked at the transcriptional effect of high pCO2 on the cyanobacteria, Trichodesmium erythraeum. Total RNA sequencing was used to quantify changes in gene expression in T. erythraeum grown under present day and projected pCO2 concentrations for the year 2100. Two bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the transcriptional data. The results from this study indicate that a substantial number of genes are affected by high pCO2. However, increased pCO2 does not completely alter any one specific metabolic pathway. As the climate shifts throughout the world, it becomes essential for crops to withstand weather changes. In our second study, we investigated the function of the temperature induced lipocalin (Tatil) from Triticum aestivum, which is proposed to help plants survive adverse conditions. This protein is part of a functionally diverse and divergent superfamily of proteins called the lipocalins; they share a common three-dimensional structure, which consists of an antiparallel β-barrel and a C-terminal α-helix. Lipocalins are found in various organisms with a wide range of functions such as pheromone activity, lipid transport and coloration. Recently, proteins from wheat and Arabidopsis were identified as lipocalins through the elucidation of three structurally conserved regions. The study is particularly timely, as recent studies within the scientific community have shown that at higher temperatures wheat yields will decrease and production will decline by 6% for each 1°C increase. We analyzed the nature of conservation in a large group of sequentially divergent and functionally diverse lipocalins and identified seventeen highly conserved positions as well as built models of the native three-dimensional state of the wheat lipocalin. Based on these computational studies, the wild-type protein and three variants were chosen for a cellular localization study involving site-directed mutagenesis, a gene gun and a confocal microscope. The results provide support for the hypothesis that the L5 loop is involved in the association of the protein with the plasma membrane. We also…

The article analyzes modern regional changes in engineering and geological conditions of Ukraine due to the complex impact of technogenesis and global climate changes. This is primarily due to the predominance of loess and loamy loess rocks in the upper part of the geological section (up to 65 % of the state) in the formation of technogenic-geological systems “technogenic object-geological environment”. Regional regulation of surface runoff (a cascade of reservoirs of the Dnieper River, up to 38000 pounds, network of channels) significantly disrupted the water-energy exchange of rocks within the upper zone of the geological environment, intensified regional changes of geomechanical parameters (compressive strength, adhesion, angle of a slope) to the factors of global climate change (increasing magnitude and uneven rainfall, warming etc.). The authors evaluated the new processes of changes in engineering-geological parameters of loesses and loamy loess’ rocks due to the disturbances of their mass-energy (water-heat) transfer, the influence of seismic stresses, complex transformations of the geological environment of industrial-urban agglomerations. The performed analysis showed that changes in engineering-geological conditions are most actively developingwithin the sites of industrial-urban agglomerations, which is caused by the complex action of water and heat losses from engineering networks, changes in relief, geodynamic impacts of transport and construction works. Maximum changes of engineering-geological conditions within towns and settlements are observed in the developed (“old”) mining areas during the flooding of mines, subsidence of surface. It is shown that a new model of the State Engineering-Geological Map of Ukraine is needed, scientific substantiation of the maximum permissible changes of the engineering-geological parameters of the geological environment for different technogenic-geological systems “technogenic object-geological environment”.