Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering
As climate mitigation efforts lag, dependence on anthropogenic CO2 removal increases. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a rapidly growing CO2 removal approach. In terrestrial ERW, crushed rocks are spread on land where they react with CO2 and water, forming dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and alkal...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Climate |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2025.1582786/full |
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| author | Rebecca B. Neumann Tyler Kukla Shuang Zhang David E. Butman David E. Butman |
| author_facet | Rebecca B. Neumann Tyler Kukla Shuang Zhang David E. Butman David E. Butman |
| author_sort | Rebecca B. Neumann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As climate mitigation efforts lag, dependence on anthropogenic CO2 removal increases. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a rapidly growing CO2 removal approach. In terrestrial ERW, crushed rocks are spread on land where they react with CO2 and water, forming dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and alkalinity. For long-term sequestration, these products must travel through rivers to oceans, where carbon remains stored for over 10,000 years. Carbon and alkalinity can be lost during river transport, reducing ERW efficacy. However, the ability of biological processes, such as aquatic photosynthesis, to affect the fate of DIC and alkalinity within rivers has been overlooked. Our analysis indicates that within a stream-order segment, aquatic photosynthesis uptakes 1%–30% of DIC delivered by flow for most locations. The effect of this uptake on ERW efficacy, however, depends on the cell-membrane transport mechanism and the fate of photosynthetic carbon. Different pathways can decrease just DIC, DIC and alkalinity, or just alkalinity, and the relative importance of each is unknown. Further, data show that expected river chemistry changes from ERW may stimulate photosynthesis, amplifying the importance of these biological processes. We argue that estimating ERW’s carbon sequestration potential requires consideration and better understanding of biological processes in rivers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e30f1eafe027464491dea2da36567c09 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9553 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Climate |
| spelling | doaj-art-e30f1eafe027464491dea2da36567c092025-08-20T01:51:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Climate2624-95532025-04-01710.3389/fclim.2025.15827861582786Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weatheringRebecca B. Neumann0Tyler Kukla1Shuang Zhang2David E. Butman3David E. Butman4Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesCarbonPlan, San Francisco, CA, United StatesDepartment of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesAs climate mitigation efforts lag, dependence on anthropogenic CO2 removal increases. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a rapidly growing CO2 removal approach. In terrestrial ERW, crushed rocks are spread on land where they react with CO2 and water, forming dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and alkalinity. For long-term sequestration, these products must travel through rivers to oceans, where carbon remains stored for over 10,000 years. Carbon and alkalinity can be lost during river transport, reducing ERW efficacy. However, the ability of biological processes, such as aquatic photosynthesis, to affect the fate of DIC and alkalinity within rivers has been overlooked. Our analysis indicates that within a stream-order segment, aquatic photosynthesis uptakes 1%–30% of DIC delivered by flow for most locations. The effect of this uptake on ERW efficacy, however, depends on the cell-membrane transport mechanism and the fate of photosynthetic carbon. Different pathways can decrease just DIC, DIC and alkalinity, or just alkalinity, and the relative importance of each is unknown. Further, data show that expected river chemistry changes from ERW may stimulate photosynthesis, amplifying the importance of these biological processes. We argue that estimating ERW’s carbon sequestration potential requires consideration and better understanding of biological processes in rivers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2025.1582786/fullcarbon dioxide removal (CDR)enhanced rock weatheringaquatic photosynthesisenhanced mineral weatheringcarbonalkalinity |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca B. Neumann Tyler Kukla Shuang Zhang David E. Butman David E. Butman Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering Frontiers in Climate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) enhanced rock weathering aquatic photosynthesis enhanced mineral weathering carbon alkalinity |
| title | Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering |
| title_full | Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering |
| title_fullStr | Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering |
| title_full_unstemmed | Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering |
| title_short | Riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering |
| title_sort | riverine photosynthesis influences the carbon sequestration potential of enhanced rock weathering |
| topic | carbon dioxide removal (CDR) enhanced rock weathering aquatic photosynthesis enhanced mineral weathering carbon alkalinity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2025.1582786/full |
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