A 10-year study by researchers from Arizona State University has revealed that deserts play vital role in reducing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Scientists have found a better and a new handler of earth's carbon, a novel solution to control global warming which is major issue for the nations across the world.

R. Dave Evans, a Washington State University Prof. of biological sciences, said that arid ecosystems do not absorb whole of CO2 from atmosphere, but can absorb excess of CO2. Researchers exposed plots in the Mojave Desert to increased carbon-dioxide levels similar to that expected in 2050.

They measured amount of CO2 absorbed by removing soil and plants down to a meter deep. Kiona Ogle, an associate Prof. with ASU's School of Life Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, found no effect on carbon contained in vegetation after being exposed to increased CO2 levels.

She found 20% higher carbon dioxide levels in the amount of carbon stored in soils due to elevated CO2 levels. Ogle said that this carbon is soil must have been accumulated from the carbon in the atmosphere which is being absorbed by plants into the soil.

Researchers said that 'dry areas filled with scrubby vegetation and sand' are absorbing excessive CO2 from the atmosphere. About 50% of earth's land surface is covered by semi-arid regions which are among the biggest ecosystems on the planet and receives less than 20 inches of rain a year. Whereas, arid lands which covers a distance of 30 degrees north and south latitude receives less than 10 inches of rain a year.

Their findings illustrate that desert ecosystems may increase carbon uptake in future to account for 15% to 28% of carbon currently being absorbed by land surfaces.