Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T20:09:14.830Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The feedback between climate and weathering

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

S. R. Gislason*
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
E. H. Oelkers
Affiliation:
Géochimie et Biogéochimie Experimentale —LMTG/Université Paul Sabatier, 14 rue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
E. S. Eiriksdottir
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
M. I. Kardjilov
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
G. Gisladottir
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
B. Sigfusson
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
A. Snorrason
Affiliation:
National Energy Authority, Grensásvegi 9, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
S. Elefsen
Affiliation:
National Energy Authority, Grensásvegi 9, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
J. Hardardottir
Affiliation:
National Energy Authority, Grensásvegi 9, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
P. Torssander
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
N. Oskarsson
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
*

Abstract

Long-term climate moderation is commonly attributed to chemical weathering; the greater the temperature and precipitation the faster the weathering rate. To test this widely-held hypothesis, we performed a field study and determined the weathering rates of eight nearly pristine north-east Iceland river catchments with varying glacial cover over 44 y. Statistically significant linear positive correlations were found between mean annual temperature and chemical weathering in all eight catchments and between mean annual temperature and mechanical weathering and runoff in seven of the eight catchments. The runoff, mechanical weathering flux, and chemical weathering fluxes in these catchments are found to increase from 6 to 16%, 8 to 30%, and 4 to 14%, respectively, depending on the catchment for each degree of temperature increase. Positive correlations were found between time and mechanical and chemical weathering for all catchments. In summary, these results demonstrate a significant feedback between climate and Earth surface weathering, and suggest that this weathering rate is currently increasing with time due to global warming.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alley, R. et al. (2007) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Summary for Policymakers. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, http://ipcc-wgl.ucar.edu/wg1/docs/WGlAR4SPMPlenaryApproved.pdf. Google Scholar
Berner, R.A. and Kothavala, Z. (2001) GEOCARB III. A revised model of atmospheric CO2 over Phanerozoic time. American Journal of Science, 301, 182–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bluth, G.J.S. and Kump, L.R. (1994) Lithologic and climatologic controls of river chemistry et Cosmochimica Acta, 58, 2341–2359.Google Scholar
Dessert, C. Dupré, B., Gaillardet, J., Francois, L.M. and Allegre, C.J. (2003) Basalt weathering laws and the impact of basalt weathering on the global carbon cycle. Chemical Geology, 202, 257–273.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gislason, S.R. and Eugster, H.P. (1987) Meteoric water-basalt interactions: I. A laboratory study. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Ada, 51, 2827–2840.Google Scholar
Gislason, S.R. and Oelkers, E.H. (2003) The mechanism, rates and consequences of basaltic glass dissolution: II. An experimental study of the dissolution rates of basaltic glass as a function of pH and temperature. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Ada, 67, 3817–3832.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gislason, S.R., Arnorsson, S. and Ármannsson, H. (1996) Chemical weathering of basalt in Southwest Iceland: Effects of runoff, age of rocks and vegetative/glacial cover. American Journal of Science, 296, 837–907.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gislason, S.R., Oelkers, E.H. and Snorrason, Á. (2006) The role of river suspended material in the global carbon cycle. Geology, 34, 49–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oelkers, E.H. (2001) An experimental study of forsterite dissolution rates as a function of temperature and aqueous Mg and Si concentration. Chemical Geology, 175, 485–494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palsson, S. and Vigfusson, G.H. (1996) Results of suspended load and discharge measurements 1963–1995. National Energy Authority, Reykjavik, OS-96032/VOD-05 B.Google Scholar
STATISTICA (2004) Versio. 7. StatSoft Inc., http://www.statsoft.com. The Icelandic Meteorological Office. Annual average climate information 1961–2005. The Icelandic Meteorological Office, Reykjavik, http://andvari.ve-dur.is/vedurfar/yfirlit/medaltalstoflur/Arsgildi.html. Google Scholar
Tomasson, H. (1990) Suspended matter in Icelandic rivers. Pp. 169–174 in: Vatnid og lande. (Sigbjarnarson, G., editor). Orkustofnun, Reykjavik, Iceland.Google Scholar
Walker, J.C.G., Hays, P.B. and Kasting, J.F. (1981) A negative feedback mechanism for the long-term stabilization of Earth's surface temperature. Journal of Geophysical Research, 86, 9776–9782.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallmann, K. (2001) Controls on the Cretaceous and Cenozoic evolution of seawater composition, atmospheric CO2 and climate. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Ada, 65, 3005–3025.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
West, A.J., Galy, A. and Bickle, M. (2005) Tectonic and climate control on silicate weathering. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 235, 211–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, A.F. and Blum, A.E. (1995) Effects of climate on chemical weathering in watersheds. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Ada, 59, 1729–1747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar