The “Carbon Cycle” Working Group was launched in 2019 by the DSSTTA to address issues related to the carbon cycle from an integrated perspective, linking geological, terrestrial, marine, atmospheric, and cryosphere processes—which are complementary components of the climate and environmental system. Coordination is currently interdepartmental and is shared by the Department of Earth System Sciences and Environmental Technologies (DSSTTA) and the Department of Bio-Agri-Food Sciences (DiSBA) of the CNR.
Scientific Coordination (CNR): Paolo Cristofanelli, Alessio Collalti, Daniela Famulari
Contatto: carbonetwork@cnr.it
Se sei interessato/a a ricevere aggiornamenti su attività e opportunità segnalate dal GdL Ciclo del Carbonio clicca qui e ISCRIVITI (per annullare la tua iscrizione, clicca qui)
Why a network dedicated to the Carbon Cycle?
Carbon is one of the most abundant elements in the universe and forms a vast number of inorganic and organic compounds that are constantly being transformed through the metabolism of organisms and natural chemical processes. The largest carbon reservoirs are the lithosphere and the mantle, which contain about 100 million GtC, of which 4,000 are in the form of fossil fuels; the oceans, with about 40,000 GtC; the soil and vegetation with 2,200 GtC, and finally the atmosphere with approximately 750 GtC—about 180 GtC more than in the pre-industrial era. Carbon exchanges between these reservoirs are characterized by chemical, physical, and biological interactions through processes that vary over time and space. There are still countless open questions and uncertainties that we must address:
- What are the geological flows of carbon – degassing and sequestration – and how have they varied over time?
- What is the role of methane and what is its contribution to the carbon cycle, with particular reference to wetlands and permafrost?
- What are the feedbacks from food webs, both aquatic and terrestrial, and how do they modify C fluxes?
- What are the interactions between dissolved organic matter in the sea and microbial communities and what are the consequences for the carbon cycle?
- What are the interactions between the various spheres of the Earth system, how have they changed in the past and how are they changing today?
- What are the main uncertainties in quantifying anthropogenic components of the carbon cycle and how can they be reduced?
The growing and unstoppable increase in fossil carbon in the atmosphere caused by human activities is one of the main causes of global warming; various feedback and amplification processes could further increase its concentration, primarily through the dramatic melting of permafrost. It is therefore crucial to discuss the best strategies for action, ranging from multifunctional forest management to the protection of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and the development of negative-emission technologies, all of which can help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Objectives and Activities
The Working Group works to achieve the following objectives:
- to strengthen the transdisciplinary network and joint activities among the institutes of the National Research Council and the national scientific community engaged in the study of the carbon cycle;
- to foster discussion on common research topics related to the carbon cycle, with particular reference to the chemical, physical, and biological interactions that govern exchanges between the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere, while promoting the development of a shared scientific language;
- to support the advancement of the relevant scientific community through the dissemination of information on initiatives, events, updates on the scientific literature, project opportunities, and relevant calls for proposals.
The Working Group’s activities are focused on strengthening the transdisciplinary network, identifying priority and emerging research topics, and providing ongoing support to the scientific community working on the carbon cycle:
- identifying potential synergies with other Thematic and Technical Working Groups within the DSSTTA Department in order to pinpoint potential collaborations and priority joint activities
- Promoting meetings dedicated to carbon cycle topics, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and the exchange of knowledge, including through the organization of events (e.g., study days or workshops), as well as contributing to conferences and symposia of relevance to the community. Participation in advanced training initiatives, such as summer or winter schools, may also be considered
- Production and dissemination of scientific and informational content intended to communicate and publicize the Working Group’s activities, including through contributions to the DSSTTA newsletter and the institutional channels of the DSSTTA and DiSBA, such as scientific updates, announcements of opportunities, sector initiatives, and research highlights
Participants
Alessandro Anav (ENEA)
Chiara Boschi (CNR-GEO)
Paolo Cristofanelli (CNR-ISAC) – Coordinatore
Carolina Cantoni (CNR-ISMAR)
Alessio Collalti (CNR-ISAFOM) – Vice-coordinatore
Daniela Famulari (CNR-IBE) – Vice-coordinatrice
Marta Galvagno (ARPA Val D’Aosta)
Olga Gavrichkova (CNR-IRET)
Annalisa Iadanza (CNR-DSSTTA) – Segreteria tecnico-scientifica
Marianna Nardino (CNR-IBE)
Adriana Pietrodangelo (CNR-ITIAm)
Alessandro Puntoni (CNR-IBF) – Collaboratore tecnico-informatico
Maurizio Ribera D’Alcalà (SZN)
Tommaso Tesi (CNR-ISP)
Initiatives and Products
2023 – View WG Presentation at the DSSTTA Department Conference 12.12.2023
2022 – International Workshop C4 “Climate Change and Carbon Cycle” (Pisa, 22-24/06/2022)
Download workshop report – “Gathering an interdisciplinary community to explore carbon-cycle complexities over the history of the Earth ” PAGES Magazine
View the contribution Climate change and the carbon cycle on CNR WebTV
2022 – WG Activities Presentation at ICOS Conference 2022
2021 – Newsletter Carbonetwork
ISSUES:
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – October 2022 Issue
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – June 2022 Issue
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – February 2022 Issue – UPDATED
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – February 2022 Issue
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – October 2021 Issue
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – June 2021 Issue
The Newsletter of the Italian Carbon Network – February 2021 Issue
2018 – National Workshop “Earth, life and climate: the Carbon cycle” 22-23 November 2018 – Pisa