How climate change will affect the influence of silicate weathering on atmospheric CO2

Abstract

Human induced greenhouse gas emissions cause an increase in global mean surface temperature. Silicate weathering is seen as the most important factor in stabilizing climate over geological time scales. Important factors in de development of the effect of silicate weathering on atmospheric carbon dioxide are thought to be temperature, runoff, vegetation, tectonic activity, lithology and processes affecting calcium carbonate burial rates and formation. Increasing temperature, runoff and vegetation due to global warming are expected to enhance silicate weathering and this might lead to reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to nearly pre-industrial over hundreds and thousands years. However, many uncertainties about this process are present, especially in the effects of tectonic activity, vegetation, land use changes and the adaptive response of calcifying organisms.