Long-term CO2 injection and its impact on near-surface soil microbiology.

Impacts of long-term CO exposure on environmental processes and microbial populations of near-surface soils are poorly understood. This near-surface long-term CO injection study demonstrated that soil microbiology and geochemistry is influenced more by seasonal parameters than elevated CO Soil samples were taken during a 3-year field experiment including sampling campaigns before, during and after 24 months of continuous CO injection. CO concentrations within CO-injected plots increased up to 23% during the injection period.

Microbial community changes at a terrestrial volcanic CO2 vent induced by soil acidification and anaerobic microhabitats within the soil column.

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) in deep geological formations is one option currently evaluated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the impact of a possible CO2 leakage from a storage site into surface environments has to be evaluated. During such a hypothetical leakage event, the CO2 migrates upwards along fractures entering surface soils, a scenario similar to naturally occurring CO2 vents.