News Earth

Natural ally against global warming not as strong as thought

Soils may take in far less carbon than simulations predict

Soil

DIRT POOR  Soils will absorb far less climate-warming carbon in coming decades than previously thought, worsening global warming, a new study shows.

USDA/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

A natural ally against global warming may provide far less aid than previously hoped.

Researchers estimate that the planet’s soils will soak up about 40 percent less carbon by the end of the century than environmental simulations have predicted.