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The NISAR satellite will enable the collection of important data on forests using a radar system. Photo: NASA Public DomainPhoto: NASA Public Domain

A radar signal from space is going to show the state of the forests

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Starting in 2024, a new space project will remotely analyze Earth's forests and soil. The initiative involves NASA and the Indian space agency ISRO
Plant diversity assessment at a survey site in the prairies of the northwestern United States. Photo: Mary Ellyn DuPre / Press release (May be published without charge in articles about this press release.Mary Ellyn DuPre / Press release (May be published without charge in articles about this press release.

Declining biodiversity reduces carbon sequestration in grasslands

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A Swedish study shows that the soil carbon content of global grasslands increases with plant diversity and that this relationship is particularly strong in warm, arid climates
Rain causes a reset of the soil ecosystem, triggering the activity of bacteria and viruses. Photo: 2140261AishwaryaShinde CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International2140261AishwaryaShinde CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

New insights into the relationship between viruses and soil bacteria

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According to UC Davis researchers, soil viruses appear to act "like lawnmowers, culling older cells and giving space for new growth"
The term "permafrost" refers to the type of perennially frozen (but not necessarily ice-covered) soil found in some cold regions. Photo: NPS Climate Change Response CC BY 2.0 DEED https://www.flickr.com/photos/npsclimatechange/27759123542Photo: NPS Climate Change Response CC BY 2.0 DEED

Superficial permafrost could (almost) disappear by 2100

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By the end of the century, near-surface permafrost may exist only in the highlands of eastern Siberia, the High Arctic and northern Greenland. As was the case 3 million years ago
The influence exerted on the population composition of microorganisms comes from the ability of earthworms to influence soil structure, pH, nutrient availability and organic matter. Photo: benketaro Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)benketaro Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Earthworms are changing Canadian forests

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Invasive species of earthworm affect microbial composition by altering overall soil conditions, Canadian research explains. Influencing nutrient and carbon cycling
Increasing urbanization results in the conversion of natural ecosystems into residential areas that incorporate green areas such as parks or lawns. Photo: Md. Nabial Haramian Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Md. Nabial Haramian Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Urbanization promotes increasing emissions from the soil

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As a result of urbanization, soil nitrous oxide emissions increase 153%, according to a new study. At the same time, the ability to absorb methane is reduced
Under drought conditions, microbes produce more atmospheric compounds than they consume. Photo: Flore de Preneuf / World Bank Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Flore de Preneuf / World Bank Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Here’s how drought stress alters soil function in the rainforest

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Drought progressively reduces the ability of soil to consume biogenic volatile organic compounds according to a German study. The emission intensifies after soil rewetting
Due to their high carbon sequestration capacity, mangroves are estimated to be able to prevent total emissions of more than 21 billion tons of CO2 worldwide. Photo: Sigit Deni Sasmito/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Sigit Deni Sasmito/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Saudi Arabia also bets on mangroves

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The Kingdom plans to plant 50 to 100 million mangrove trees "in the coming years." An initiative to protect biodiversity that once again highlights the key role of this plant species in mitigating climate and contributing to soil protection
Aberdare forest in Kenya. 67% of heterotrophic respiration of microbes is located in tropical soils. Photo: Wanjikucha Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Wanjikucha Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Soil microbes will release 40 percent more CO2 by 2100

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Climate change is increasing the respiration of soil microbes and related CO2 emissions. A phenomenon, says a Swiss study, set to accelerate between now and the end of the century
The use of cover crops is one strategy to improve the health of agricultural soils by promoting carbon sequestration. Photo: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

The solution for the 2030 climate goals lies in agricultural soils

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Jacqueline McGlade, former EEA executive director and co-founder of Downforce say some easy management strategies in agricultural soils can increase the amount of carbon stock by more than 30 bn metric tons

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