What is the Deep Carbon Observatory?

The Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) is a multidisciplinary, international initiative dedicated to achieving a transformational understanding of Earth's deep carbon cycle, including its poorly constrained reservoirs and fluxes, the unknown role of deep biology, and unexplored influences of the deep carbon cycle on critical societal concerns related to energy, environment and climate.
 
Frequently Asked Questions about the DCO
 
 

How to Get Involved

Register for DCO Monthly Newsletter
The success of the DCO depends on the participation of an international, multidisciplinary community. Since the initial Deep Carbon Cycle Workshop was held at the Carnegie Institution’s Broad Branch Road Campus, over 300 scientists from 22 countries have expressed interest in this effort.  To join the DCO network and to receive periodic email notifications highlighting the progress of the DCO and participation opportunities, please register your information with us.

Carbon plays an unparalleled role in our lives

 

Carbon Plays an Unparalleled Role in our Lives

Carbon is the element of life—the chemical backbone for all essential biomolecules. Carbon-based fuels supply energy, and small carbon-containing molecules in Earth’s atmosphere play a major role in climate. Yet, the behaviors of the carbon-bearing systems that exist more than a few hundred meters beneath our feet remain largely unknown. We do not know how much carbon is stored in Earth’s interior, the nature of deep reservoirs, how carbon moves among repositories, and the extent to which carbon moves to and from Earth’s surface. We have only hints of an extensive deep microbial system that, by some estimates, may rival the total surface biomass. Past considerations of the global carbon cycle have focused primarily on oceans, atmosphere, and shallow surface environments, but these reservoirs are not closed systems.  A comprehensive interdisciplinary research program is needed to investigate Earth’s dynamic deep carbon cycle.
  

Deep Carbon in the News

 

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         in the News
 Scientists find Moon whiskers