Chemical weathering of carbonates and silicates: a new study reveals the importance of carbonate rocks in CO2 consumption on a short term scale

Chemical weathering of carbonates and silicates is an important sink of hashtagcarbon as it consumes atmospheric hashtagCO2 increasing river dissolved load. In this study led by Marco Donnini and Ivan Marchesini we explored the influence of hashtagrunoff, hashtagerosion, and hashtaglithology on variations in atmospheric CO₂ consumption in the context of climate change. Our findings challenge previous assumptions, revealing that even small amounts of carbonate rocks within a predominantly siliciclastic lithology can have a non-negligible impact on CO₂ consumption over short time scales. This insight may call into question large-scale estimates of atmospheric CO₂ consumption that rely solely on predominant lithological data.

📌 Project details:
Progetto 2022PFNNRS_PE10_PRIN2022 – PNRR M4.C2.1.1
Funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU
CUP: B93C22002120001 Hydrological Controls on Carbonate-mediated CO₂ Consumption

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