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In the future, says the bacteria-based model, the area of grasslands characterised by alkaline soils will expand. Photo: Shizhao Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedShizhao Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Bacteria help predict soil acidity in grasslands

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A new Chinese model based on bacterial analysis allows to estimate changes in grasslands. By 2100, soil acidity will decrease especially in North-East Asia, Africa and Oceania
In Brazil, 54% of native villages in the Amazon basin are subject to isolation during severe droughts. Photo: James Martins Attribution 3.0 Unported CC BY 3.0 DeedPhoto: James Martins Attribution 3.0 Unported CC BY 3.0 Deed

Indigenous communities in the forest pay the price of drought

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Drought leads to a prolonged lowering of river levels in the Amazon causing local communities to become isolated, a study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona has found. This problem affects more than 50% of indigenous villages
In some Asian countries, the frequency of flash drought events has increased from 20% to 80%. Photo: Bioversity International/S.Landersz ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-NODERIVS 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DeedBioversity International/S.Landersz ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-NODERIVS 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Flash drought is becoming increasingly frequent in Asia

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In some Asian countries, says research, the frequency of sudden drought events has increased from 20 to 80 per cent in just two decades. But the phenomenon is now global
Carbon sequestered from miombo forests in Mozambique could exceed estimates by 2.2 times. Photo: Lichinga ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedLichinga ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Mozambique’s forests store more carbon than expected

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A new study revises estimates for miombo forests upwards. Carbon from these ecosystems in Mozambique could be 2.2 times higher than previously assumed
The accelerated loss of phosphorus from soils linked to climate change is a threat to agricultural production globally. Photo: Alandmanson ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedAlandmanson ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Warmer climate accelerates global phosphorus loss

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A Chinese study reported an increase in atmospheric phosphorus flux in a global annual average temperature range of 20°C to 23°C. With potential consequences for agriculture
Due to their carbon sequestration potential, forests are an essential resource in climate change mitigation. Photo: USDA Nicholas A Toneli Creative Commons; Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)USDA Nicholas A Toneli Creative Commons; Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Forests still offset half of global fossil emissions

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The world's forests, an American study notes, absorb between 3.5 and 4 billion tonnes of carbon each year. Equivalent to "nearly half of the carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels between 1990 and 2019."
The soil organic carbon survey was conducted in the forests of the Wanglang Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, southeast of the Tibetan Plateau. Photo: Philippe Semanaz ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedPhilippe Semanaz ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Mixed forests are more prone to carbon sequestration

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A Chinese study found that mixed forests are able to store a higher amount of carbon due to the greater accumulation of wood debris
Soil respiration, both autotrophic and heterotrophic, is a crucial component of the carbon cycle. Photo: Konstantinos Kourtidis Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)Konstantinos Kourtidis Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

How global warming affects soil respiration

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A Chinese study makes a new contribution to the issue of soil respiration in the climate change context. Emissions are higher in deciduous forests where the heterotrophic respiration is less prevalent
Worldwide, saline and sodic soils detected at a depth of one metre extend over 833 million hectares. Photo: Rheins ATTRIBUTION 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY 3.0 DeedRheins ATTRIBUTION 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY 3.0 Deed

Saline and alkaline soils can also contribute effectively to agriculture

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Although subject to fertility loss, saline soils represent an important agricultural reserve when treated with appropriate restoration techniques. A recent Chinese study examines them
Globally, scientists explained, wetlands are rich in biodiversity and provide various services including water supply for agricultural use and carbon storage. Photo: Kelly Fike/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region PUBLIC DOMAIN MARK 1.0 UNIVERSAL PDM 1.0 DeedPhoto: Kelly Fike/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region PUBLIC DOMAIN MARK 1.0 UNIVERSAL PDM 1.0 Deed

Here is how the climate will affect the wetlands in North America

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Wetlands, a study from the US explains, will experience substantial drying during the summer. Impacting habitat and biodiversity from Florida to Mississippi to southeastern Canada