Premium
Natural variations in calcite dissolution rates in streams: Controls, implications, and open questions
Author(s) -
Covington M. D.,
Gulley J. D.,
Gabrovšek F.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl063044
Subject(s) - calcite , dissolution , bedrock , streams , geology , karst , erosion , silicate , dilution , range (aeronautics) , mineralogy , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geomorphology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , chemistry , materials science , computer network , organic chemistry , computer science , composite material , physics , thermodynamics
Models of bedrock channel evolution typically assume that chemical erosion is negligible in comparison to mechanical erosion. While this assumption is reasonable for channels in silicate rocks, it is questionable within highly soluble strata such as carbonates. The magnitude and variability of calcite dissolution rates in streams has remained as a critical unknown for models of bedrock incision and karst conduit formation. Here we use U.S. Geological Survey data to estimate calcite dissolution rates from 77 different streams located in a wide range of settings. The calculated rates are commonly on the order of ∼1 mmyr −1 , which is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude larger than previous estimates. We also find thatPCO 2is the strongest control on at‐a‐site variability, though some sites also display dilution‐controlled variability. Typically, dissolution rates vary within a relatively narrow range, which has important implications for the relative importance of chemical and mechanical erosion.