Is orogenesis a net sink or source of atmospheric CO 2 ? | Zendy

Skelton Alasdair | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Premium

Is orogenesis a net sink or source of atmospheric CO 2 ?

Author(s) -

Skelton Alasdair

Publication year - 2013

Publication title -

geology today

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.188

H-Index - 17

eISSN - 1365-2451

pISSN - 0266-6979

DOI - 10.1111/gto.12009

Subject(s) - metamorphic rock , geology , earth science , weathering , geochemistry , carbon cycle , denudation , sink (geography) , silicate , carbon sink , tectonics , paleontology , climate change , chemistry , geography , biology , organic chemistry , ecology , oceanography , cartography , ecosystem

In global carbon cycle models, orogenesis is often viewed as a sink for atmospheric CO 2 , acting on tectonic timescales. However, recent attempts to quantify fluxes for CO 2 produced by metamorphic reactions and released to the atmosphere suggest that these are an order‐of‐magnitude greater than CO 2 uptake by chemical weathering of silicate minerals, and that metamorphic CO 2 is released on millennial timescales. These hypotheses have gained support from both measurements of CO 2 emissions from present‐day orogenic hot springs and chromatographic modelling of carbonation reactions in metamorphic rocks from ancient orogens. In this article I review research that attempts to quantify metamorphic CO 2 release fluxes, focussing specifically on studies conducted in the SW Scottish Highlands.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research