Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data
Abstract Enhanced weathering (EW) is a promising strategy to remove atmospheric CO2 by amending agricultural and forestry soils with ground silicate rocks. However, current model‐based EW assessments face large uncertainties stemming from the intricate interplay among soil processes, compounded by t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004224 |
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| author | Matteo B. Bertagni Salvatore Calabrese Giuseppe Cipolla Leonardo V. Noto Amilcare Porporato |
| author_facet | Matteo B. Bertagni Salvatore Calabrese Giuseppe Cipolla Leonardo V. Noto Amilcare Porporato |
| author_sort | Matteo B. Bertagni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Enhanced weathering (EW) is a promising strategy to remove atmospheric CO2 by amending agricultural and forestry soils with ground silicate rocks. However, current model‐based EW assessments face large uncertainties stemming from the intricate interplay among soil processes, compounded by the absence of a detailed comparison with available observational data. Here, we address this critical gap by first advancing a dynamic, ecohydrological, and biogeochemical Soil Model for Enhanced Weathering (SMEW). We then conduct a hierarchical model‐experiment comparison with four experimental data sets of increasing complexity, from simple closed incubation systems to open mesocosm experiments. The comparison demonstrates SMEW's ability to capture the dynamics of primary variables, including soil moisture, alkalinity, and inorganic carbon. The comparison also reveals that weathering rates are consistently lower than traditionally assumed by up to two orders of magnitude. We finally discuss the implications for carbon removal scenarios and avenues for further theoretical and experimental explorations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5171d5a0c4254d319784d12b4eafef9d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1942-2466 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-5171d5a0c4254d319784d12b4eafef9d2025-01-28T13:21:09ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662025-01-01171n/an/a10.1029/2024MS004224Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental DataMatteo B. Bertagni0Salvatore Calabrese1Giuseppe Cipolla2Leonardo V. Noto3Amilcare Porporato4Department of Environment Land and Infrastructure Engineering Politecnico di Torino Torino ItalyDepartment of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Texas A&M University College Station TX USADipartimento di Ingegneria Università degli Studi di Palermo Palermo ItaliaDipartimento di Ingegneria Università degli Studi di Palermo Palermo ItaliaThe High Meadows Environmental Institute Princeton University Princeton NJ USAAbstract Enhanced weathering (EW) is a promising strategy to remove atmospheric CO2 by amending agricultural and forestry soils with ground silicate rocks. However, current model‐based EW assessments face large uncertainties stemming from the intricate interplay among soil processes, compounded by the absence of a detailed comparison with available observational data. Here, we address this critical gap by first advancing a dynamic, ecohydrological, and biogeochemical Soil Model for Enhanced Weathering (SMEW). We then conduct a hierarchical model‐experiment comparison with four experimental data sets of increasing complexity, from simple closed incubation systems to open mesocosm experiments. The comparison demonstrates SMEW's ability to capture the dynamics of primary variables, including soil moisture, alkalinity, and inorganic carbon. The comparison also reveals that weathering rates are consistently lower than traditionally assumed by up to two orders of magnitude. We finally discuss the implications for carbon removal scenarios and avenues for further theoretical and experimental explorations.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004224 |
| spellingShingle | Matteo B. Bertagni Salvatore Calabrese Giuseppe Cipolla Leonardo V. Noto Amilcare Porporato Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| title | Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data |
| title_full | Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data |
| title_short | Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data |
| title_sort | advancing enhanced weathering modeling in soils critical comparison with experimental data |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004224 |
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