Deep Carbon Cycle is no longer an active organization or initiative. This website serves solely as a historical reference and archive of its previous research, projects, and contributions to the field. The information provided here reflects the work done during its active years, but the project is no longer operational.
The deep carbon cycle was one of Earth’s most essential processes, regulating the movement of carbon between the planet’s surface and its deep interior over millions to billions of years. While most people are familiar with the short-term carbon cycle—where carbon moves through plants, animals, and the atmosphere—the deep carbon cycle operates on a much larger scale, shaping Earth’s climate and geology. This blog will explore how the deep carbon cycle works, why it matters, and the critical role it plays in maintaining Earth’s long-term balance.
Diamonds have fascinated humans for centuries, celebrated for their beauty and rarity. Yet, beyond their allure as precious gemstones, diamonds hold the key to understanding some of Earth’s most profound geological processes. These sparkling gems are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle, where extreme temperatures and pressures transform carbon into
Diamonds are one of the most coveted and enigmatic substances on Earth. They’re known for their exceptional beauty and rarity, but they also hold invaluable secrets about our planet’s inner workings. Formed under extreme pressure and temperature conditions, diamonds are more than just a symbol of luxury—they are nature’s time
Volcanoes are more than just fiery spectacles—they play an essential role in regulating the Earth’s carbon cycle and climate. While we often think of volcanic eruptions as dramatic events that disrupt local environments, they are also a crucial part of the planet’s natural system for controlling carbon levels. These mighty
Earth is a dynamic and ever-changing planet, shaped by a variety of natural processes. While many people are familiar with surface-level phenomena like the water cycle or weather patterns, there’s a much deeper, less visible system that plays a critical role in maintaining the planet’s carbon balance. Often referred to
Twenty-eight DCO members came together from 29 April – 4 May, 2018 at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC to calculate a new estimate of global carbon dioxide (CO2) degassing from large volcanic emitters, small volcanic sources and diffuse degassing from volcanic regions. The synthesis of massive amounts
Applications were invited for a highly qualified and motivated postdoctoral research scientist with a geologic background in computational geophysical fluid dynamics, whose primary responsibility will be to develop new codes to study carbon transport in numerical models of fluid flow in subduction zones.
A joint study between Carnegie and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has determined that the average temperature of Earth’s mantle beneath ocean basins was about 110 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius) higher than previously thought, due to water present in deep minerals. The results are published in Science. Earth’s mantle, the
The atmosphere that allows our planet to sustain life formed from gases emitted by volcanoes early in Earth’s history. These volatile elements are constantly recycled back into the deep Earth at subduction zones, where tectonic plates sink into the mantle. During this process the sinking plate was subjected to increasing
Even though carbon was one of the most abundant elements on Earth, it was actually very difficult to determine how much of it exists below the surface in Earth’s interior. Research by Deep Carbon Observatory scientists Marion Le Voyer, Erik Hauri (Carnegie Institution for Science, USA), Katherine Kelley (University of
When volcanoes erupt, they spew lava, ash, and gas into the atmosphere and over the surrounding landscape. The impacts of volcanic eruptions in populated areas are well documented, since scientists can monitor gas emissions and collect physical samples with relative ease. However, a significant fraction of Earth’s volcanoes are remote,
Super-deep diamonds, which form more than 380 km deep in Earth’s mantle, were invaluable tools for deep carbon scientists. Super-deep diamonds, which form more than 380 km deep in Earth’s mantle, were invaluable tools for deep carbon scientists. Not only do they harbor clues about how they formed and therefore
The 15 November 2016 edition of the journal Lithos delves into the role of natural diamonds in deep Earth research. Titled “The nature of diamonds and their use in Earth’s study,” the 15 November 2016 edition of the journal Lithos delves into the role of natural diamonds in deep Earth research.
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