Photo Credit:Fair Use [17 U.S.C. § 107] Study finds available nitrogen insufficient to remove climate-altering carbon dioxide.

New Research Shows Earth System Models Overestimate Carbon Removal Rate

26 Nov 2025 | Abstracted from Phys.org

New research shows Earth system models overestimate carbon removal because they assume nitrogen fixation rates about 50% higher than reality. Since plants need nitrogen to grow under elevated CO₂, this error exaggerates the carbon fertilization effect by ~11%. Scientists urge revising models to reflect actual nitrogen fixation, warning that climate projections may be too optimistic about natural carbon uptake.

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