Permafrost thaw triggers both carbon release and removal via rock weathering, new study finds

miragenews.com

by solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 points

A new study in Nature reveals that permafrost thaw does more than release greenhouse gases. On the Tibetan Plateau, researchers found that rock weathering in rivers can offset up to 78% of CO2 emissions from thawing permafrost, and in some areas even more than 100%. This challenges the simple 'carbon time bomb' narrative and shows that biological and geological processes interact in ways many climate models miss. The effect depends on local geology. Silicate-rich rocks help sequester carbon, while sulfur-bearing minerals like pyrite can increase emissions. But the authors are clear: even at its strongest, this natural weathering is far too small to counteract human CO2 emissions, which are roughly 100 times larger annually. The real solution remains cutting emissions at the source.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting nuance. The 'carbon time bomb' framing always felt a bit too simplistic. Good to see actual field data showing the weathering side of the ledger.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

78% offset sounds big but the article says it varies wildly by location. Continuous permafrost only 15% offset. Sporadic permafrost over 100%. So regional geology matters a lot.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The key line for me is that human emissions are 100x larger than silicate weathering. So this is a useful model correction but not a get out of jail card.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

This matters for carbon accounting in permafrost regions. If models only count the release side they overestimate net emissions. But the authors are right that it doesn't change the need for deep cuts.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting this is on the Tibetan Plateau, not the Arctic. Different geology, different hydrology. Would be good to see similar studies done in Alaska and Siberia before drawing global conclusions.