Continental Rock Weathering Exerts Negative Feedback on Global Warming

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed that continental rock weathering plays a crucial role in removing atmospheric CO2, thereby exerting a negative feedback on global warming. The study, focusing on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), found that carbonate weathering is a significant component of terrestrial carbon sinks. The CLP's rich carbonate content and fast kinetics of carbonate weathering contribute significantly to global carbon cycle.

Key Takeaways:

  • Continental rock weathering removes atmospheric CO2, exerting a negative feedback on global warming.
  • Carbonate weathering is a significant component of terrestrial carbon sinks, particularly in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP).
  • The CLP's fast kinetics of carbonate weathering and rich carbonate content contribute to global carbon cycle.
  • Seasonal variations in HCO3- concentrations in the CLP's spring-river systems exhibit chemostatic behavior.
  • The variation in runoff depth (river discharge) may play a more important role in controlling CCSFs than variation in HCO3- for catchments in the CLP.
  • The average concentrations of HCO3- in the spring sites of the Hong, Wuli, and Bainiu River catchments were 5.18 mmol/L, 6.2 mmol/L, and 6.92 mmol/L, respectively.
  • The net CCSFs of Hong, Wuli, and Bainiuhe Rivers were estimated to be 5.03 t C km-2 a- 1, 4.61 t C km-2 a- 1, and 5.39 t C km-2 a- 1, respectively.
  • The CO2 consumption of major rivers originating from or flowing through the loess region of the world could reach approximately 2.09 x 10^7 t C a- 1.

Statistics:

  • 9.86 % of the total carbonate weathering-related carbon flux from rivers to the ocean is accounted for by CO2 consumption of major rivers originating from or flowing through the loess region of the world.
  • Approximately 6 % of the total land area is covered by loess.
  • The average concentrations of HCO3- in the spring sites of the Hong, Wuli, and Bainiu River catchments were 5.18 mmol/L, 6.2 mmol/L, and 6.92 mmol/L, respectively.
  • The net CCSFs of Hong, Wuli, and Bainiuhe Rivers were estimated to be 5.03 t C km-2 a- 1, 4.61 t C km-2 a- 1, and 5.39 t C km-2 a- 1, respectively.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Data on Global and Planetary Change Reported by Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences (Carbonate Weathering-related Carbon Sink Fluxes In Chinese Loess Plateau With Rich Carbonate Content: Insights From Three Little Catchments). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. September 5, 2025; p 114.
  • Global and Planetary Change, 2025;252. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Global and Planetary Change - www.journals.elsevier.com/global-and-planetary-change/)
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Guiyang 550081, People's Republic of China.