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
2014
Review of EPA Power Plant Plan
Download Robert Howarth's statement on the EPA Draft Plan Released June 2, 2014 on “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units” (RIN 2060-AR3) from this link.
2014
Dana Caulton wins award from DRI!
Congratulations to our colleague Dana Caulton, graduate student at Purdue and lead author on our recent paper in PNAS "Toward a better understanding and quantification of methane emissions from shale gas development", who was recently names the winner of the 2014 Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences. This award is made possible by the Desert Research Institute (DRI).
2014
Updated methane emissions review
Our paper has been published in Energy Science & Engineering which reviews the research on methane emissions from natural gas systems conducted since 2011 in the context of our 2011 paper and the fifth assessment from the IPCC, released in 2013. You can download the final version of this paper at this link.
2014
UNEP Report on Sustainable Land Use
A report was recently produced by the Land and Soils Working Group of the International Resource Panel, on which Bob is one of the lead authors. It explores how the management of land-based biomass production and consumption can be developed towards a higher degree of sustainability across different scales: from the sustainable management of soils on the field to the sustainable management of global land use as a whole. Check out the full report, the summary, or the UNEP website.
Recent Publications
Howarth 2014. A bridge to nowhere: Methane emissions and the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas. Energy Science & Engineering.
2014 Report by the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Assessing global land use: Balancing consumption with sustainable supply. You can also download the summary here or visit the UNEP website for other related documents.
Caulton et al, 2014. Toward a better understanding and quantification of methane emissions from shale gas development. PNAS.
Howarth et al, 2013. Metabolism of a nitrogen-enriched coastal marine lagoon during the summertime. Biogeochemistry.
Hayn et al, 2013. Exchange of nitrogen and phosphorus between a shallow lagoon and coastal waters. Estuaries & Coasts.
Jacobson et al, 2013. Examining the feasibility of converting New York States all-purpose energy infrastructure to one using wind, water, and sunlight. Energy Policy.
Howarth and Ingraffea. 2013. Shale gas: Time to go slow. World Energy Monitor, World Energy Forum. United Nations. New York, NY.