Search Results (7)

Wetlands play a crucial role in carbon sequestration. The integration of wetland carbon dynamics into landscape architecture, however, has been challenging, mainly due to gaps between scientific knowledge and landscape practice norms. While the carbon performance of different wetland types is well established in the ecological sciences literature, our study pioneers the translation of this scientific understanding into actionable landscape design guidance. We achieve this through a comprehensive, spatially explicit analysis of wetland carbon dynamics using 2024 National Wetlands Inventory data and other spatial datasets. We analyze carbon flux rates across 13 distinct wetland types in Illinois to help quantify useful information related to designing for carbon outcomes. Our analysis reveals that in Illinois, bottomland forests function as primary carbon sinks (709,462 MtC/year), while perennial deepwater rivers act as significant carbon emitters (−2,573,586 MtC/year). We also identify a notable north–south gradient in sequestration capacity, that helps demonstrate how regional factors influence wetland and other stormwater management design strategies. The work provides landscape architects with evidence-based parameters for evaluating carbon sequestration potential in wetland design decisions, while also acknowledging the need to balance carbon goals with other ecosystem services. This research advances the profession’s capacity to move beyond generic sustainable design principles toward quantifiable climate-responsive solutions, helping landscape architects make informed decisions about wetland type selection and placement in the context of climate change mitigation. Full article

This study utilizes machine learning to quantify CO₂ plume extents by analyzing microseismic data from the Illinois Basin Decatur Project (IBDP). Leveraging a unique dataset of well logs, microseismic records, and CO₂ injection metrics, this work aims to predict the temporal evolution of subsurface CO₂ saturation plumes. The findings illustrate that machine learning can predict plume dynamics, revealing vertical clustering of microseismic events over distinct time periods within certain proximities to the injection well, consistent with an invasion percolation model. The buoyant CO₂ plume partially trapped within sandstone intervals periodically breaches localized barriers or baffles, which act as leaky seals and impede vertical migration until buoyancy overcomes gravity and capillary forces, leading to breakthroughs along vertical zones of weakness. Between different unsupervised clustering techniques, K-Means and DBSCAN were applied and analyzed in detail, where K-means outperformed DBSCAN in this specific study by indicating the combination of the highest Silhouette Score and the lowest Davies–Bouldin Index. The predictive capability of machine learning models in quantifying CO₂ saturation plume extension is significant for real-time monitoring and management of CO₂ sequestration sites. The models exhibit high accuracy, validated against physical models and injection data from the IBDP, reinforcing the viability of CO₂ geological sequestration as a climate change mitigation strategy and enhancing advanced tools for safe management of these operations. Full article

This study presents a refined approach to spatially identify carbon sequestration assets, crucial for effective climate action planning in Illinois. By integrating landscape analytical methods with species-specific carbon assessment techniques, we deliver a nuanced evaluation of forest area sequestration potential. Our methodology employs a combination of landscape imagery, deep learning analytics, Kriging interpolation, and i-Tree Planting tools to process forest sample data. The results reveal a spatial variability in sequestration capacities, highlighting significant carbon sinks in southern Illinois. This region, known for its historical woodland richness, showcases the distinct carbon sequestration abilities of various tree species. Findings emphasize the role of biodiversity in the carbon cycle and provide actionable insights for forest management and carbon neutral strategies. This study demonstrates the utility of advanced spatial analysis in environmental research, underscoring its potential to enhance accuracy in ecological quantification and conservation efforts. Full article

The study of geological CO₂ sequestration and its long-term implications are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. This work presents a numerical reservoir modeling study to upscale CO₂ injection in the Eastern Illinois Basin to a cumulative value of 27 Mt within the next 20 years, adding one proposed Class VI injector well to the two already existing ones in this field. Along with the reservoir simulations that include the main CO₂ trapping mechanisms that ensure a minimum of a 100-year Area-of-Review containment, we describe a step-by-step approach to enhance measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV) plans, starting from low-cost methods such as repeated 1D VSP in existing boreholes to 2D seismic surveys and higher-cost data acquisition techniques. Full article

The concept of soil health is increasingly being used as an indicator for sustainable soil management and even includes legislative actions. Current applications of soil health often lack geospatial and monetary analyses of damages (e.g., land development), which can degrade soil health through loss of carbon (C) and productive soils. This study aims to evaluate the damages to soil health (e.g., soil C, the primary soil health indicator) attributed to land developments within the state of Illinois (IL) in the United States of America (USA). All land developments in IL can be associated with damages to soil health, with 13,361.0 km² developed, resulting in midpoint losses of 2.5 × 10¹¹ of total soil carbon (TSC) and a midpoint social cost of carbon dioxide emissions (SC-CO₂) of $41.8B (where B = billion = 10⁹, USD). More recently developed land area (721.8 km²) between 2001 and 2016 likely caused the midpoint loss of 1.6 × 10¹⁰ kg of TSC and a corresponding midpoint of $2.7B in SC-CO₂. New developments occurred adjacent to current urban areas near the capital cities of Springfield, Chicago, and St. Louis (the border city between the states of Missouri and IL). Results of this study reveal several types of damage to soil health from developments: soil C loss, associated “realized” soil C social costs (SC-CO₂), and loss of soil C sequestration potential from developments. The innovation of this study has several aspects. Geospatial analysis of land cover combined with corresponding soil types can identify changes in the soil health continuum at the landscape level. Because soil C is a primary soil health indicator, land conversions caused by developments reduce soil health and the availability of productive soils for agriculture, forestry, and C sequestration. Current IL soil health legislation can benefit from this landscape level data on soil C loss with GHG emissions and associated SC-CO₂ costs by providing insight into the soil health continuum and its dynamics. These techniques and data can also be used to expand IL’s GHG emissions reduction efforts from being solely focused on the energy sector to include soil-based emissions from developments. Current soil health legislation does not recognize that soil’s health is harmed by disturbance from land developments and that this disturbance results in GHG emissions. Soil health programs could be broadened to encourage less disturbance of soil types that release high levels of GHG and set binding targets based on losses in the soil health continuum. Full article

Field research for exploring the impact of winter cover crops (WCCs) integration into cropping systems is resource intensive, time-consuming and offers limited application beyond the study area. To bridge this gap, we used the APSIM model, to simulate corn (Zea mays L.)-rye (Secale cereale L.)-corn-rye and corn-rye-soybean (Glycine max L.)-rye rotations in comparison with corn-corn and corn-soybean rotations across the state of Illinois at a spatial resolution of 5 km × 5 km from 2000 to 2020 to study the impact of WCCs on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and crop production. By propagating the uncertainty in model simulations associated with initial conditions, weather, soil, and management practices, we estimated the probability and the expected value of change in crop yield and SOC following WCC integration. Our results suggest that integrating cereal rye into the crop rotations imparted greater yield stability for corn across the state. It was found that the areas with low probability of increase in SOC (p < 0.75) responded equally well for soil carbon sequestration through long term adoption of WCCs. This study presents the most complete uncertainty accounting of WCC benefits across a broad region and provides greater insights into the spatiotemporal variability of WCCs benefits for increasing WCC adoption rate. Full article

Geochemical and biological processes that operate in the soil matrix and on the soil surface are important to the degradation of biosolids in soil. Due to the large surface area of soils it is assumed that the microbial ecology is associated with mineral soil surface area. The total mineral surface areas were determined for soils from eight different fields selected from a long term study (1972–2006) of annual biosolids application to 41 fields in central Illinois varying in size from 3.6 to 66 ha. The surface areas for the soils varied from 1 to 9 m²/g of soil. The biological degradation rates for the eight soils were determined using a biological degradation rate model (DRM) and varied from 0.02 to 0.20/year⁻¹. Regression analysis revealed that the degradation rate was positively associated with mineral soil surface area (1 m²/g produces 0.018 year⁻¹ increase in the degradation rate). The annual soil sequestration rate was calculated to increase from 1% to 6% when the soil total surface area increased from 1 to 9 m²/g of soil. Therefore, land application of biosolids is an effective way to enhance carbon sequestration in soils and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Full article