Our lab works broadly on biogeochemistry and ecosystem science, applied to a wide variety of both theoretical and practical questions. We enjoy trying to understand some of nature's complexity, and we believe strongly in applying objective science to sustaining the biosphere and human society. Our research encompasses a wide range of spatial scales, from microbial to ecosystem, regional, and global. Our research includes a broad range of inter-connected topical areas, illustrated below. Note that much of our research and many of our papers fall into two or more of these categories. Click on a topic to further explore research in the Howarth-Marino lab.
Recent News
2021
Howarth presents on blue hydrogen in webinar
Bob presents How Green is "Blue Hydrogen?" as part of the webinar by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility on Nov 17, 2021.
2021
Howarth lectures from COP26
While attending COP26, Bob gave two lectures to the Oceanography class. Nov 5th on "The critical role of methane in global warming, and Nov 10th on "Climate solutions."
2021
How green is blue hydrogen?
First peer-reviewed analysis of the greenhouse gas footprint of blue hydrogen that includes methane emissions. Blue hydrogen is made from the methane in natural gas with capture and storage of carbon dioxide, and is widely promoted by the oil and gas industry as having low emissions. However, across a wide range of assumptions, Howarth and Jacobson demonstrate large emissions for blue hydrogen. For the base case analysis, which relies on best available information on average methane emissions from natural gas and average capture of carbon dioxide, blue hydrogen has a greenhouse gas footprint that is 20% larger than simply burning natural gas.
Recent Publications
Haviland et al. 2022. Variation in sediment and seagrass characteristics reflect multiple stressors along a nitrogen-enrichment gradient in a New England lagoon. Limnology and Oceanography
Howarth 2021. Chapter 6: Methane and Climate Change. In: John F. Stolz, W. Michael Griffin, and Daniel J. Bain (editors), Environmental Impacts from Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves, Cambridge University Press
Howarth and Jacobson, 2021. How green is blue hydrogen? Energy Science & Engineering
Howarth et al. 2021. Role of external inputs of nutrients to aquatic ecosystems in determining prevalence of nitrogen vs. phosphorus limitation of net primary productivity. Biogeochemistry
Wong et al. 2021. Anthropogenic Perturbations to the Atmospheric Molybdenum Cycle. Global Biogeochemical Cycles