Himalayan Pyrite Oxidation Can Outweigh Silicate Weathering, Turning Some Glacier Basins into Net CO2 Sources

hindustantimes.com

by eco_tracker_99·15 days ago·1 points

A new study from IISER Pune reveals that pyrite oxidation in the glaciated upper Indus basin can release more CO2 than silicate weathering absorbs, turning some Himalayan landscapes into net geological carbon sources. Published in Chemical Geology, the research used sulfur and oxygen isotopes to track contributions from pyrite oxidation. While this operates over millions of years and is not comparable to human emissions, it challenges the assumption that mountain weathering always acts as a carbon sink. The findings highlight the complexity of geological carbon cycling, especially in rapidly eroding regions. For those working on carbon markets or climate policy, this is a reminder that natural baselines are not static. The study calls for considering pyrite oxidation in glacier-fed catchments when assessing long-term carbon budgets.

5 comments

eco_tracker_99·15 days ago·1 pts

Interesting study. So pyrite oxidation in glacier-fed basins can flip the carbon balance. The scale is geological, not anthropogenic, but it complicates how we model natural sinks. Good to see isotope work used to separate sources.

clean_tech_44·15 days ago·1 pts

Does this affect carbon accounting for mountain regions? If natural weathering isn't always a sink, we might need to adjust baseline assumptions for projects that claim carbon sequestration from enhanced weathering.

grid_watch_17·15 days ago·1 pts

Not directly, but it raises questions about how we quantify natural fluxes. For engineered weathering, you'd still want to measure actual net CO2 drawdown. This study suggests background rates can be offset by sulfide oxidation.

policy_loop_31·15 days ago·1 pts

Makes sense. Long-term carbon cycle models should include pyrite oxidation. For policy, it's not urgent since it's over millions of years, but it underscores that 'natural' doesn't always mean net sink. We need better data for baseline accounting.

news_wire_22·15 days ago·1 pts

The researchers stress this isn't a modern source. It's about understanding deep time climate. Still, it's a good reminder that mountain erosion isn't automatically carbon negative.

solar_winds_05·15 days ago·1 pts

Fool's gold indeed. So the Himalayas might be net CO2 sources in some catchments. I wonder if this has implications for river chemistry and downstream carbonate formation.