Assessing Carbon-Storing Potential in the United States

At this point, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are getting a lot of attention from authorities and researchers alike, as well as a large number of feasibility studies meant to assess their true potential. The results of such a study were recently announced by the Department of Interior.

DOI official say that experts need to develop a novel methodology to allow for assessing the potential that wetlands, forests and other ecosystems in the country have for storing the greenhouse gas.

The ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of CO2 that makes its way into Earth's atmosphere. Elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon have been linked to global warming and oceanic acidification.

According to the US officials, developing new research methods could make it a lot easier for experts to find ways of mitigate the impacts of climate change of ecosystems and habitats.

“This new research by scientists from Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey is a cutting-edge development that will inform land management policies and planning for the long-term storage of carbon to help lessen the impacts of climate change,” said David J. Hayes.

“This innovative initiative, which Congress called on Interior to undertake in 2007 energy legislation and which Secretary Salazar outlined at the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference, will improve the nation's understanding of amounts, sources, and transport of carbon at scales suitable for use by land managers and decision-makers,” he added.

Hayes is the US Deputy Secretary of the Interior. He explained that CCS means removing and storing excess CO2 from the atmosphere into vegetation, soils, caves and aquatic environments.

“Using this methodology, the USGS will now be able to conduct a national assessment to determine how much carbon is being stored in ecosystems and to estimate the capability to use natural systems to absorb greenhouse gases,” says Zhiliang Zhu.

“ The assessment will be conducted on a regional basis,” adds the expert, who is based at the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

In addition to carbon dioxide, CS technologies could also be used for methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), concentrations of which are also on the rise. Methane is 300 times more potent than CO2 in promoting global warming.