The Impacts of Erosion on the Carbon Cycle

Abstract Physical and chemical erosion associated with water both affect land–atmosphere carbon exchanges. However, previous studies have often addressed these processes separately or used oversimplified mechanisms, leading to ongoing debates and uncertainties about erosion‐induced carbon fluxes. We provide an overview of the on‐site carbon uptake fluxes induced by physical erosion (0.05–0.29 Pg C yr −1 , globally) and chemical erosion (0.26–0.48 Pg C yr −1 ). Then, we discuss off‐site carbon dynamics (during transport, deposition, and burial). Soil organic carbon mineralization during transport is nearly 0.37–1.20 Pg C yr −1 on the globe. We also summarize the overall carbon fluxes into estuaries (0.71–1.06…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: U24A20572
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2024YFF0809301