Silicate Rock Weathering and the Global Carbon Cycle

Sigurdur R. Gislason, Eric H. Oelkers

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Silicate weathering and soil formation is critical to global - scale processes since silicates constitute about 83% of the rocks exposed at Earth's land surface. On geological time scales, atmospheric carbon dioxide content has been balanced by the weathering of Ca - Mg - silicate rocks, the burial and weathering of sedimentary organic matter and degassing of volcanoes. A large number of laboratory and fi eld - based studies have been performed to better understand the link between silicate weathering, climate and the long - term carbon cycle. In this chapter we summarize some of this past work and suggest directions for future research.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFrontiers in Geochemistry
Subtitle of host publicationContribution of Geochemistry to the Study of the Earth
PublisherJohn Wiley and Sons Inc.
Pages84-103
Number of pages20
ISBN (Print)9781405193382
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2011

Other keywords

  • 'crystalline silicate rocks'
  • Factors Affecting Silicate Weathering and Denudation Rates
  • Field Measurements of Silicate Weathering and Denudation Rates
  • Mineral Dissolution and Precipitation Rates
  • Silicate Rock Weathering and the Global Carbon Cycle
  • The Relative Importance of Chemical and Mechanical Processes
  • Weathering and Denudation at a Global Scale
  • Weathering, Erosion and Atmospheric CO2

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