SOIL CARBON AND CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
From
Consortium for Agricultural
Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases (CASMGS)
Charles W. Rice, K-State Soil
Microbiology, National CASMGS Coordinator (785) 532-7217 cwrice@ksu.edu
Steve L. Watson, CASMGS
Communications (785) 532-7105 swatson@oznet.ksu.edu
No. 24
This week's issue:
* CASMGS Carbon Measurement and Monitoring Forum at K-State
Research:
* Study Reveals
Older Trees May Not Absorb Excess CO2
National:
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* Carbon
Sequestration Field Day In
International:
* CSIRO Book
Highlights Carbon Measuring Technologies
* Australian
Scientists Urge Farmers To Adopt New Tillage Practices
* EP Approves GHG
Emission Trading Scheme
**********
CASMGS CARBON
MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING
FORUM AT K-STATE
Interest in agricultural soil carbon sequestration is at an all-time high around the world -- and growing. We are witnessing considerable activity in scientific research, government policy, and financial markets. Currently, one of the most critical questions is: How can soil carbon best be measured and monitored in order to ensure a valid carbon accounting system?
Join fellow scientists, policymakers, and industry
representatives in discussing this question at the Carbon Measurement and
Monitoring Forum. This conference will be hosted by the Consortium for
Agricultural Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases (CASMGS) at
* How soil carbon is measured.
* The potential of grasslands and cropping ecosystems for
sequestering carbon.
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New technology for measuring and verifying soil carbon levels.
* The spatial variability in soil carbon across a wide range of landscapes.
* The cost of measuring soil carbon.
Field demonstrations
to illustrate how management practices affect carbon sequestration in croplands
and grazinglands will be held at the Konza Prairie Biological Station and at
the K-State Agronomy Farm. Break-out discussions will enable all members of the
audience to have face-to-face discussions with policymakers, members of the
energy industry, farm groups, and carbon experts. Those attending this event
will not only enhance their knowledge of carbon sequestration within
terrestrial ecosystems, but will play role in shaping the future of this
industry.
The cost of the
conference is $195. Because of the logistics involved in the field trips, we
must limit registration. Based on early interest, we expect the conference to
fill up quickly. If you have questions or would like to preregister now, please
see: http://oznet.ksu.edu/ctec/Fall_Forum.htm
Conference
registration will begin at
For motel
reservations, a special rate of $69 per night (not including tax) is available
at the Manhattan Holiday Inn until September 24. Reservations may be made by
calling 1-800-HOLIDAY, by e-mail at himanhattan@hotmail.com,
for by fax at 785-539-8368. Please reference the Carbon Measurement conference
to receive the special rate. After September 24, reservations at the special
rate will be on a space available basis.
Tentative Schedule:
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The following presentations will be as
special seminars in the Dept. of Agronomy - Forum Hall, KSU Student Union |
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Registration |
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Welcome |
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Remainder of Evening Program to be held
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Walk to the |
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Reception - USDA Representative |
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Overview of CASMGS |
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Potential of ag soils to sequester carbon
- Management of cropland and grassland |
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Economics of management adoption |
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Manhattan
Holiday Inn |
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Registration |
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Soil sampling for C - Influence of
landscape, temporal variability, and physical properties (B.D. & Depth) |
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New technology for measuring carbon -
LIBS, Veris, others |
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Break |
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Monitoring and Verification - Benchmarks,
Practices, Modeling |
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Acceptable Error - Panel discussion with
Industry, Policy, Ag Producer and University representatives. |
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Lunch |
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Drive to North Farm |
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North Farm Visit |
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- Landscape impact on soil
carbon levels and soil sampling |
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- Cropping systems
management impacts on soil carbon levels |
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Drive to Konza |
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Konza Visit |
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- Using soil survey data,
remote sensing to estimate carbon content and potential |
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- Potential of prairie
ecosystems to sequester carbon |
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- Prairie ecosystem
management impacts on soil carbon levels |
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BBQ |
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Manhattan
Holiday Inn |
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Cost of monitoring |
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Scaling - Databases, remote sensing,
models |
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Break |
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Break-out sessions |
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Lunch - Senator Roberts, R-Kan. (invited) |
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Break-out reports and discussion |
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Summary panel discussion - Industry,
Policy, Ag producer, University |
**********
Study
Reveals Older Trees
May
Not Absorb Excess CO2
Researchers at
For more than three
years, the scientists said they measured the carbon content of leaves and wood
from 10 species of 30-meter-tall trees in a century-old forest near
Some scientists,
like Ram Oren of Duke University, said they were not convinced that trees
actually use their excess carbon stores, while others, such as Richard Norby of
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, argued that trees can still absorb excess
CO2 even if they do not deplete their supplies.
-- Nature:
**********
Carbon
Sequestration Field Day In
Learn about
opportunities for carbon sequestration and renewable energy production in the
major irrigated and dryland cropping systems of the Western Corn Belt at the
University of Nebraska’s “Carbon Sequestration in Irrigated and Dryland
Agriculture Field Day” on August 22, 2003 from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the
Research and Education Building Auditorium near Mead, Nebraska. The field day
will provide an update on research results from large interdisciplinary
research projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the USDA
Consortium for Arboricultural Soils Mitigation of greenhouse Gases (CASMGS).
For more
information, see: http://www.csp.unl.edu/public/index.html
**********
Announces
Start of Trading
Chicago Climate
Exchange reached a milestone in its development of the greenhouse gas emissions
market as it set the opening date for trading. CCX also announced that
IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has been contracted to provide, design and
service CCX’s electronic trading platform.
The auction of CCX
emission allowances to its Members will be conducted, and the results
announced, on
For more
information, see: http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com
**********
CSIRO
Book Highlights
Carbon
Measuring Technologies
CSIRO said the book,
titled "Carbon Accounting in Forests," details the efforts of the
Australian Greenhouse Office, CSIRO and researchers in
"The potential
carbon credit value of afforestation and reforestation projects around the
world is estimated to be worth about $5 billion," said CSIRO Forestry and
Forest Products scientist Trevor Booth. "However, to attract carbon sequestration
investments, organizations will need to be able to predict the amount of
carbon...in different types of forests. 'Carbon Accounting in Forests' provides
an overview of current and future research needed to develop the required
technologies."
Contact: Bill Stephens,
CSIRO, phone +61-2-6267-6151, e-mail bill.stephens@csiro.au
-- EIN:
**********
Australian
Scientists Urge Farmers
to
Adopt New Tillage Practices
In a presentation
during the International Soil Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO) 2003
conference, which is currently being held in
"In
The researcher said
more than 20 billion tons of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide are released as a
result of tilling in
"However, we
can reduce or avoid all these things by using controlled traffic/zero-tillage
farming systems," said Tullberg. "This has potential to cut emissions
by between a quarter and a third overall and achieve a huge increase in soil
carbon content -- otherwise known as fertility."
For more
information, see: http://www.istro.org
**********
EP
Approves GHG Emission Trading Scheme
The European
Parliament (EP) recently approved plans for an international greenhouse gas
(GHG) emission trading scheme (ETS) that will allow nearly 10,000 steel
companies, power generators, oil and natural gas firms, paper mills, glass
manufacturers, and cement factories to buy and sell rights to emit carbon dioxide
(CO2) beginning in 2005.
European Union
environment commissioner Margot Wallstroem hailed the approval of the ETS,
saying it will force companies to "start incorporating climate change into
day-to-day commercial decisions."
EP officials noted
that the ETS legislation includes amendments that would require aluminum and
chemical manufacturers to enter the scheme after 2005.
-- Associated Press:
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MEETINGS OF INTEREST
Note: All dates are 2003 unless
otherwise noted.
August 19
The Monitoring,
Evaluation, Reporting, Verification and Certification of GHG Emissions:
Energy-Efficiency Projects Workshop
For information,
see: http://www.iepec.org/workshop_vine.htm
August 22
Carbon Sequestration
Field Day
For more
information, see: http://csp.unl.edu/public/index.html
October 15-17
CASMGS Carbon
Measuring and Management Forum
For more
information, contact Scott Staggenborg at (785) 532-5833
Send comments or items for the
newsletter to Steve Watson at:
<swatson@oznet.ksu.edu>
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