Carbon Cycle Science

Mitigating the impact of environmental change through ecosystem analysis

Our multidisciplinary research teams are exploring ways to maximize long-term storage of carbon dioxide in Earth’s ecosystems. By increasing the ability of ecosystems to capture and store carbon, we can move closer to achieving negative carbon emissions and more effectively foster ecosystem resilience.

Our researchers leverage unique experimental tools at CAMS to conduct radiocarbon analyses of soil, plant, air, and water samples so they can track carbon as it moves through ecosystems—providing insight regarding how the unique features of each ecosystem affect its long-term carbon sequestration capacity.

Research areas

Soil sample collection in a tropical forest.

Carbon cycles in terrestrial ecosystems

Our scientists use radiocarbon dating to better understand carbon cycle trends and predict how ecosystems and their soils will respond to changes.

Three researchers stand in front of a corn field.

Atmospheric carbon removal and storage

Our scientists are studying techniques to accelerate removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and safely store it. 

Learn more

Mcfarlane, Karis J.
Karis Mcfarlane
 [email protected]
Publications

Explore publications authored by LLNL scientists regarding their carbon cycle research at CAMS

Technology

Explore relevant instruments and technologies researchers at CAMS use to study the carbon cycle

Katherine Grant

Scientist spotlight

Katherine Grant is a geochemist who studies isotopes to understand how carbon moves through ecosystems, providing insight regarding the vulnerability of carbon reservoirs to long-term environmental changes. She joined LLNL as a postdoc and converted to a staff scientist in 2024. She enjoys conducting research in labs and in the field, learning more about natural environments. She’s especially excited about exploring complex ecosystems and appreciates the access she has to world-class experimental tools at LLNL. She uses instruments at CAMS to conduct isotope-based characterizations of soil samples that she collects in the field. She’s also developing new sample preparation techniques that will offer new insights regarding how fast carbon moves through terrestrial ecosystems. Learn more about Katherine.