Article
Engineering, Civil
Song Xianwei, Lyu Sidan, Sun Kun, Gao Yang, Wen Xuefa
Summary: This study investigated the sources and mechanisms of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) generation in a subtropical plantation catchment. Results showed a net carbon loss in the headwater stream catchment, with soil CO2 dissolution, carbonate weathering, and synergistic effects playing a key role in controlling DIC concentration. Additionally, the DIC-generating processes could lead to an underestimation of soil biological CO2 efflux to the atmosphere.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. V. V. Dhanu Radha, Chidambaram Sabarathinam, Norah Al-Ayyadhi, Farah K. Al-Ajeel, Habib Al-Qallaf, Adnan Akber
Summary: This research collected rainwater samples from different regions in Kuwait to determine the sources and distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2). The results showed significant differences in the rainwater chemistry between industrial and residential areas, with natural sources having a greater impact on CO2 levels. Biotic respiration and phytoplankton communities at the ocean-atmospheric interface also influence the concentration of CO2 in rainwater.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Zeidan, Jennifer Walker, Brent G. T. Else, Lisa A. Miller, Kumiko Azetsu-Scott, Brett D. Walker
Summary: The Canadian Arctic is warming at three times the rate of the rest of the planet. This study examines the effects of climate change on the Arctic marine carbon cycle by analyzing stable carbon and radiocarbon values of dissolved inorganic carbon collected in Baffin Bay. The results suggest a residence time of 360-690 years for deep water in Baffin Bay.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veran Weerathunga, Wei-Jen Huang, Sam Dupont, Hsueh-Han Hsieh, Nathangi Piyawardhana, Fei-Ling Yuan, Jhe-Syuan Liao, Chia-Yu Lai, Wei-Ming Chen, Chin-Chang Hung
Summary: Since the Industrial Revolution, the atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 has been rapidly increasing, leading to ocean acidification with a decrease in surface ocean pH. In crustaceans, exposure to low pH altered immune markers but did not have a significant impact on fitness parameters.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Katerina Novotna, Lenka Pivokonska, Lenka Cermakova, Michaela Prokopova, Katerina Fialova, Martin Pivokonsky
Summary: Widespread pollution of aquatic environments by microplastics is a serious environmental threat. This study found that different types of microplastics released significant amounts of dissolved organic carbon and inorganic carbon when in contact with water for a long time. Various elements and harmful compounds were also leached from the microplastics. These results provide insight into the transfer of various compounds from microplastics to ambient water.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melissa R. McCutcheon, Xinping Hu
Summary: Based on a four-decade dataset, this study examines the long-term trends and spatial patterns of CO2 concentration, pH value, and other related parameters in seven estuaries along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The study finds that these estuaries have generally experienced increasing pCO2 and decreasing values of DIC, omega(Ar), and beta(DIC), with the magnitude of change increasing from north to south. These findings suggest that these estuaries have become a greater source of CO2 to the atmosphere over the last few decades, potentially impacting calcification rates of important estuarine organisms.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wei-Jen Huang, Wei-Jun Cai, Xinping Hu
Summary: The study found that strong seasonal net DIC removal occurred in the near-surface water during summer on the northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf, while the net DIC production peak in the near-bottom, subsurface waters was observed between July and September. The delayed coupling between eutrophic surface and hypoxic bottom waters suggests a similar pattern may be seen in other nutrient-rich, river-dominated ocean margins worldwide.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Janet J. Reimer, Patricia M. Medeiros, Najid Hussain, Stephen F. Gonski, Yuan-Yaun Xu, Ting-Hsuan Huang, Wei-Jun Cai
Summary: This research aims to investigate if coastal marshes in Georgia, USA, are hot-spots for acidification due to increased inorganic carbon sources and if there is any terrestrial influence on offshore acidification in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). The results show elevated dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) in the marshes compared to predictions, with accompanying low pH and aragonite saturation states (O-Ar). There is a strong relationship between the organic and inorganic carbon derived from terrestrial/estuarine sources and acidification in the marshes.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rihuan Zha, Tao Yang, Xiaoqing Shi, Pibo Su, Yunxin Fang
Summary: This study quantitatively assessed the cycling of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in methane-rich marine sediments and found that methane is the main source of DIC, with varying sources of methane at different sites. The study also highlighted the influence of external thermogenic methane and the methanogenic zone on DIC cycling. Accurately assessing DIC cycling in methane-rich marine sediments is important for estimating their contribution to the oceanic carbon cycle.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyra H. Kim, James W. Heiss, Holly A. Michael, William J. Ullman, Wei-Jun Cai
Summary: DIC and Alk(T) concentrations undergo substantial changes in sandy beach aquifers, creating an important yet overlooked source of carbon to coastal systems.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Maxi Castrillejo, Roberta L. Hansman, Heather D. Graven, Joanna G. Lester, Silvia Bollhalder, Kayley Kundig, Lukas Wacker
Summary: The Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP) at ETH-Zurich has developed a simplified method to rapidly analyze radiocarbon in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of seawater. This method has been assessed by internal quality controls, but a comparison with externally produced C-14 measurements was still missing. In a recent study, LIP made the first intercomparison with the National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (NOSAMS) facility, and the results show a very good agreement between the two methods.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xia Feng, Zice Jia, Xudong Wang
Summary: This study analyzes over 120 samples from the northern Gulf of Mexico and finds that the carbon isotopes in seep carbonates formed from hydrocarbon seepage vary over time, confirming the impact of multiple sources of dissolved inorganic carbon on carbonate formation. Additionally, there are common trends in the carbon isotopes of carbonates formed during different stages, suggesting the importance of the temporal evolution of fluid sources in carbonate isotope geochemistry.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nittala S. Sarma, G. Chiranjeevulu, Sudarsana Rao Pandi, Dokala Bhaskara Rao, V. V. S. S. Sarma
Summary: This study investigates the coupling between Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) in eighteen Indian estuaries. The study reveals a significant linear relationship between DIC, CDOM abundance, and pH level in most estuaries, with some estuaries showing elevated DIC levels and other indicators suggesting anthropogenic influence. CDOM properties, such as spectral slope and spectral slope ratio, align with these findings. The study also finds that CDOM contributes different proportions of DIC in different estuaries, indicating its importance in the organic alkalinity of estuaries.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xing-yu Huang, Dong Zhang, Fu-shun Wang, Zhi-qi Zhao, Ai-chun Chen, Jun-wen Zhang, Cong Zhang, Li Wu, Yu-hong Li, Bing-juan Ma, Qi-yan Feng
Summary: The water-sediment regulation scheme in the Yellow River adjusts the river's sediment scouring annually to maintain the Xiaolangdi Reservoir's optimal capacity. This scouring process releases dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) into the river, increasing the DIC concentration and CO2 outgassing. The release of DIC during the adjustment of the water-sediment regulation scheme is derived from the anaerobic oxidation of organic matter in the permeable sediment environment.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Boda Li, Huanting Hu, William M. Berelson, Jess F. Adkins, Laurence Y. Yeung
Summary: The isotopic composition of dissolved oxygen can be used as a tracer for respiration and transport in the subsurface ocean. However, uncertainties in transport parameters and isotopic fractionation factors limit its effectiveness. In this study, new data and a model were used to investigate the oxygen isotopologues in the subsurface Pacific. The results suggest that the traditional isotopic fingerprints associated with oxygen consumption in the Pacific Ocean may need to be reexamined.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ilenne Del Valle, Tara M. Webster, Hsiao-Ying Cheng, Janice E. Thies, Andre Kessler, Mary Kaitlyn Miller, Zachary T. Ball, Kevin R. Mackenzie, Caroline A. Masiello, Jonathan J. Silberg, Johannes Lehmann
Editorial Material
Geography, Physical
Caroline Ann Masiello, Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2020)
Article
Agronomy
Jennifer E. Kroeger, Ghasideh Pourhashem, Kenneth B. Medlock, Caroline A. Masiello
Summary: While there is a lot of literature on the water and nutrient retention abilities of biochar, there is limited research connecting these benefits to biochar qualities, water retention mechanisms, and optimal locations for agricultural use. More information is needed to help biochar stakeholders make informed deployment decisions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Ilenne Del Valle, Emily M. Fulk, Prashant Kalvapalle, Jonathan J. Silberg, Caroline A. Masiello, Lauren B. Stadler
Summary: The rapid diversification of synthetic biology tools offers hope in addressing long-standing environmental issues by using engineered microbes as sensors to study microbial behaviors in different matrices, track element cycling in the Earth system, and establish microbe interactions. However, before full potential can be reached, biological parts and microbial chassis suitable for environmental conditions need to be developed, along with ethical considerations when using synthetic biosensors for environmental applications.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Corey R. Lawrence, Marjorie S. Schulz, Caroline A. Masiello, Oliver A. Chadwick, Jennifer W. Harden
Summary: The amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) associated with soil minerals exhibits a threshold relationship with effective soil moisture, leading to variations in SOC storage mechanisms in soils from different chronosequence sites. Differences in effective soil moisture drive divergent pedogenic trajectories, resulting in variations in the form and depth distribution of secondary weathering products. Clay-rich argillic horizons and amorphous secondary minerals accumulate under different moisture conditions, influencing the dynamics of SOC storage and preservation.
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Johannes Lehmann, Annette Cowie, Caroline A. Masiello, Claudia Kammann, Dominic Woolf, James E. Amonette, Maria L. Cayuela, Marta Camps-Arbestain, Thea Whitman
Summary: Climate change mitigation strategies based on biochar generation and its application to agricultural soils can effectively sequester carbon, with trade-offs between biogeochemical and economic considerations. Emission reductions and CO2 removal by biochar systems depend on the energy being replaced, with varying impacts when biochar is used instead of coal or renewable energy sources. Opportunities for increasing crop yields exist with biochar additions, but the trade-offs and relationships among emissions reductions, energy production, and fertilizer responses must be carefully considered for effective climate change mitigation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Annie Xu, Ted Loch-Temzelides, Chima Adiole, Nathan Botton, Sylvia G. Dee, Caroline A. Masiello, Mitchell Osborn, Mark A. Torres, Daniel S. Cohan
Summary: The costs of COVID-19 weigh disproportionately on communities of color, with economic costs falling more heavily on Black and Hispanic residents. County-level racial composition highly correlates with COVID-19 case and death rates.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Boaz Hilman, Tal Weiner, Tom Haran, Caroline A. Masiello, Xiaodong Gao, Alon Angert
Summary: The CO2/O2 fluxes ratio, known as the apparent respiration quotient (ARQ), provides valuable information about respiratory-substrate stoichiometry and non-respiratory processes. This study investigated the variability of ARQ in a Mediterranean oak forest over 15 months. The results showed that ARQ values varied in different tissues, with CO2 re-fixation affecting tree stems and wound-response O2 uptake affecting fresh tissues. The study also found that soil ARQ was lower than expected, indicating the stoichiometry of the organic matter sub-pool supporting respiration. The ARQ values in soil air and root air demonstrated the potential to distinguish autotrophic and heterotrophic sources of soil respiration. The limitations of this method were also discussed.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Swetha Sridhar, Caroline M. Ajo-Franklin, Caroline A. Masiello
Summary: Microbial biosensors can sense and report environmental stimuli, but the persistence of the genetic circuit's microbial host, known as the chassis, is crucial for successful design and deployment. Model chassis organisms may not persist well in environmental conditions, while non-model organisms face challenges such as genetic intractability and part unavailability. Therefore, we propose a conceptual framework for the systematic selection of environmental biosensor chassis, considering ecological, metabolic, and genetic constraints.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Emily M. Fulk, Xiaodong Gao, Li Chieh Lu, Kelly R. Redeker, Caroline A. Masiello, Jonathan J. Silberg
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of matrix hydration on gene expression and found that gas signal could be reported by engineered microbes in a soil matrix through gas concentration. These findings suggest a less disruptive method for monitoring gene expression in environmental samples.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ilenne Del Valle, Xiaodong Gao, Teamrat A. Ghezzehei, Jonathan J. Silberg, Caroline A. Masiello
Summary: Soil matrix properties have a significant impact on microbial behaviors, and we developed a tunable artificial soil to study the abiotic mechanisms affecting soil microbial growth and communication. By using gas-reporting biosensors, we found that soil texture, mineralogy, and alkalinity control microbial growth and the bioavailability of signal molecules.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiao Chen, Xiaodong Gao, Pingfeng Yu, Leonardo Spanu, Jessica Hinojosa, Shuqi Zhang, Mingce Long, Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Caroline A. Masiello
Summary: This study compared different laboratory aging methods to simulate biochar aging using a decade-scale natural charcoal aging event. The results showed that oxidation with 30% H2O2 most accurately simulated most properties of ten-year field aging. UVA aging and NH2Cl aging showed distinct differences compared to field aging. By reducing the number of measured physicochemical properties, biochar aging can be accurately predicted.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carolyn R. Cornell, Xiao Chen, Caroline A. Masiello, Pedro J. J. Alvarez
Summary: Pyrolysis of hydrocarbons shows potential in reducing CO2 emissions from hydrogen production. The byproduct, solid zero-valent carbon (ZVC), can be used as an agricultural soil amendment similar to biochar. This study examined the effects of ZVC on the growth and nitrogen cycling gene expression of three model bacteria.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Swetha Sridhar, Caroline M. Ajo-Franklin, Caroline A. Masiello
Summary: Microbial biosensors play a crucial role in sensing and reporting exposures to stimuli, aiding our understanding of environmental processes. However, selecting suitable microbial hosts, or chassis, for biosensors is a challenge. This study evaluates the ecological, metabolic, and genetic constraints for chassis development and proposes a conceptual framework for selecting environmental biosensor chassis.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Loredana G. Suciu, Robert J. Griffin, Caroline A. Masiello
Summary: A zero-dimensional modeling framework was developed to investigate the degradation of levoglucosan (LEV) emitted during biomass burning in the atmosphere, as well as its effects on secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and other gases. The results show that the degradation timescale of LEV varies by phase and has effects on SOA and other gases. The study suggests that most of the initial LEV concentration can be chemically lost or deposited locally before being transported regionally.
GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
