120 results for group: climate-change

Alkaline Mineral Soil Amendment: A Climate Change ‘Stabilization Wedge’?

Fatima Haque, Yi Wai Chiang, Rafael M. Santos Abstract Extreme climate change due to heat-trapping gases, especially carbon dioxide, necessitates its mitigation. In this context, the carbon dioxide sequestration technology of enhanced weathering has for years been investigated, with a possible implementation strategy via alkaline mineral soil amendment being more recently proposed. Candidate materials for enhanced weathering include calcium and magnesium silicates, most notably those belonging to the olivine, pyroxene and serpentine groups of minerals, given their reactivity with CO2 and global availability. When these finely crushed silicate ...

The influence of particle size on the potential of enhanced basalt weathering for carbon dioxide removal – Insights from a regional assessment

Thomas Rinder, Christoph von Hagke Abstract Enhanced weathering through basalt application on agricultural land represents a proposed strategy for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It has been shown that enhanced weathering is principally feasible on a global scale, but there is still uncertainty with respect to the predicted drawdown in a given timeframe. This information is however vital to evaluate, if enhanced weathering should be further considered as a factor to alleviate the impact of the climate crisis. With this in mind, this article reviews of the current state of research and estimates the CO2 drawdown for scenarios ...

Climate Change Mitigation through Enhanced Weathering in Bioenergy Crops

Kantola, I. B., Masters, M. D., Wolz, K. J., DeLucia, E. H. Abstract Bioenergy crops are a renewable alternative to fossil fuels that reduce the net flux of CO2 to the atmosphere through carbon sequestration in plant tissues and soil. A portion of the remaining atmospheric CO2 is naturally mitigated by the chemical weathering of silica minerals, which sequester carbon as carbonates. The process of mineral weathering can be enhanced by crushing the minerals to increase surface area and applying them to agricultural soils, where warm temperatures, moisture, and plant roots and root exudates accelerate the weathering process. The carbonate byprod...

Substantial carbon drawdown potential from enhanced rock weathering in the United Kingdom

Euripides P. Kantzas, Maria Val Martin, Mark R. Lomas, Rafael M. Eufrasio, Phil Renforth, Amy L. Lewis, Lyla L. Taylor, Jean-Francois Mecure, Hector Pollitt, Pim V. Vercoulen, Negar Vakilifard, Philip B. Holden, Neil R. Edwards, Lenny Koh, Nick F. Pidgeon, Steven A. Banwart, David J. Beerling Abstract Achieving national targets for net-zero carbon emissions will require atmospheric carbon dioxide removal strategies compatible with rising agricultural production. One possible method for delivering on these goals is enhanced rock weathering, which involves modifying soils with crushed silicate rocks, such as basalt. Here we use dynamic carbon ...

Combating Climate Change Through Enhanced Weathering of Agricultural Soils

M. Grace Andrews, Lyla L. Taylor Abstract Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) are driving increases in global temperatures. Enhanced weathering of silicate rocks is a CO2removal technology that could help mitigate anthropogenic climate change. Enhanced weathering adds powdered silicate rock to agricultural lands, accelerating natural chemical weathering, and is expected to rapidly draw down atmospheric CO2. However, differences between enhanced and natural weathering result in significant uncertainties about its potential efficacy. This article summarizes the research into ...

Simulating carbon capture by enhanced weathering with croplands: an overview of key processes highlighting areas of future model development

Lyla L. Taylor, David J. Beerling, Shaun Quegan, Steven A. Banwart Abstract Enhanced weathering (EW) aims to amplify a natural sink for CO2by incorporating powdered silicate rock with high reactive surface area into agricultural soils. The goal is to achieve rapid dissolution of minerals and release of alkalinity with accompanying dissolution of CO2into soils and drainage waters. EW could counteract phosphorus limitation and greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions in tropical soils, and soil acidification, a common agricultural problem studied with numerical process models over several decades. Here, we review the processes leading to soil acidifica...

Effects of mineralogy, chemistry and physical properties of basalts on carbon capture potential and plant-nutrient element release via enhanced weathering

Amy L.Lewis, Binoy Sarkar, Peter Wadea, Simon J.Kemp, Mark E.Hodson, Lyla L.Taylor, Kok Loong Yeong, Kalu Davies, Paul N.Nelson, Michael I.Bird, Ilsa B.Kantola, Michael D.Masters, Evan DeLucia, Jonathan R.Leake, Steven A.Banwart, David J.Beerling Abstract Mafic igneous rocks, such as basalt, are composed of abundant calcium- and magnesium-rich silicate minerals widely proposed to be suitable for scalable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) by enhanced rock weathering (ERW). Here, we report a detailed characterization of the mineralogy, chemistry, particle size and surface area of six mined basalts being used in large-scale ERW field trials. We use 1-D ...

The contribution of agricultural lime to carbon dioxide emissions in the United States: dissolution, transport, and net emissions

Tristram O.West, Allen C.McBride Abstract Agricultural lime (aglime) is commonly applied to soils in the eastern U.S. to increase soil pH. Aglime includes crushed limestone (CaCO3) and crushed dolomite (MgCa(CO3)2). Following the supposition by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that all C in aglime is eventually released as CO2 to the atmosphere, the U.S. EPA estimated that 9 Tg (Teragram = 1012 g = 106 metric tonne) CO2 was emitted from an approximate 20 Tg of applied aglime in 2001. A review of historic data on aglime production and use indicates that 30 Tg may better represent the annual U.S. consumption of aglime. More ...

Rapid Removal of Atmospheric CO2 by Urban Soils

Carla-Leanne Washbourne, Elisa Lopez-Capel, Phil Renforth, Philippa L. Ascough, and David A. C. Manning Abstract The measured calcium carbonate content of soils to a depth of 100 mm at a large urban development site has increased over 18 months at a rate that corresponds to the sequestration of 85 t of CO2/ha (8.5 kg of CO2 m–2) annually. This is a consequence of rapid weathering of calcium silicate and hydroxide minerals derived from the demolition of concrete structures, which releases Ca that combines with CO2 ultimately derived from the atmosphere, precipitating as calcite. Stable isotope data confirm an atmospheric origin for carbonate ...

Review of greenhouse gas emissions from crop production systems and fertilizer management effects Author

C.S.Snyder, T.W.Bruulsema, T.L.Jensen, P.E.Fixen Abstract Fertilizer nitrogen (N) use is expanding globally to satisfy food, fiber, and fuel demands of a growing world population. Fertilizer consumers are being asked to improve N use efficiency through better management in their fields, to protect water resources and to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while sustaining soil resources and providing a healthy economy. A review of the available science on the effects of N source, rate, timing, and placement, in combination with other cropping and tillage practices, on GHG emissions was conducted. Implementation of intensive crop management ...