Enhanced chemical weathering as a geoengineering strategy to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, supply nutrients, and mitigate ocean acidification

Abstract Chemical weathering is an integral part of both the rock and carbon cycles and is being affected by changes in land use, particularly as a result of agricultural practices such as tilling, mineral fertilization, or liming to adjust soil pH. These human activities have already altered the terrestrial chemical cycles and land‐ocean flux of major elements, although the extent remains difficult to quantify. When deployed on a grand scale, Enhanced Weathering (a form of mineral fertilization), the application of finely ground minerals over the land surface, could be used to remove CO 2 from the atmosphere. The release of cations during the dissolution of such silicate minerals would convert dissolved CO 2…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• UO
  University of Oxford
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: EXC177
• UH
  Universität Hamburg

  Award: EXC177
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada