Photo: Clearing Land for Biofuels Makes Global Warming Worse

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


Farmers convert a native prairie in central South Dakota to arable land in this undated photo.

Biofuels such as corn ethanol typically start out with a "carbon debt": the gas released into the atmosphere while preparing the land for crops.

This release of greenhouse gases may ultimately make biofuels worse for the environment, a new study says.

Photograph courtesy Boyd Schulz

MOST VIEWED NEWS

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies

PICTURES: "Extraordinary" Ancient Skeletons Found
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.