Due to ongoing anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the Earth is experiencing global warming. To limit this warming well below the 2°C target set by the Paris Agreement, the timely large-scale implementation of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods is of critical importance besides reducing CO2 emissions. A very promising CDR strategy is enhancing the natural weathering process, where pulverised rocks are distributed to enhance the flux of CO2 from the atmosphere into soils and water.
Enhanced Weathering (EW) sequesters CO2 in carbonates (inorganic carbon) and can also stimulate organic carbon sequestration. To optimize the carbon sink potential per area, potentially synergistic combinations with other CDR methods are of high interest. These include the combination of EW with biochar amendments, the stabilization of soil organic carbon in the presence of fresh rock material, the enhanced uptake of carbon by plants via fertilisation effects, reduced emissions of other greenhouse gases, or improved soil hydrology. Therefore the science of EW is also the science of combining different fields, which focused until now often on only one CDR method.
This special collection encourages submissions to this broad application scheme of EW and welcomes contributions on laboratory experiments, greenhouse experiments as well as field trials. We also encourage submissions on modelling studies, as predictions about the efficiency of CDR, impacts on soil functioning and biological uptake of released elements by EW need improvements, such that in the future EW in combination with other CDR options can be applied in a sustainable way.
Due to ongoing anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the Earth is experiencing global warming. To limit this warming well below the 2°C target set by the Paris Agreement, the timely large-scale implementation of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods is of critical importance besides reducing CO2 emissions. A very promising CDR strategy is enhancing the natural weathering process, where pulverised rocks are distributed to enhance the flux of CO2 from the atmosphere into soils and water.
Enhanced Weathering (EW) sequesters CO2 in carbonates (inorganic carbon) and can also stimulate organic carbon sequestration. To optimize the carbon sink potential per area, potentially synergistic combinations with other CDR methods are of high interest. These include the combination of EW with biochar amendments, the stabilization of soil organic carbon in the presence of fresh rock material, the enhanced uptake of carbon by plants via fertilisation effects, reduced emissions of other greenhouse gases, or improved soil hydrology. Therefore the science of EW is also the science of combining different fields, which focused until now often on only one CDR method.
This special collection encourages submissions to this broad application scheme of EW and welcomes contributions on laboratory experiments, greenhouse experiments as well as field trials. We also encourage submissions on modelling studies, as predictions about the efficiency of CDR, impacts on soil functioning and biological uptake of released elements by EW need improvements, such that in the future EW in combination with other CDR options can be applied in a sustainable way.