Kantzas, E.P. orcid.org/0000-0002-7610-1874, Val Martin, M. orcid.org/0000-0001-9715-0504, Lomas, M.R. et al. (14 more authors) (2022) Substantial carbon drawdown potential from enhanced rock weathering in the United Kingdom. Nature Geoscience, 15 (5). pp. 382-389. ISSN 1752-0894
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 budget modelling to assess the carbon dioxide removal potential and agricultural benefits of implementing enhanced rock weathering strategies across UK arable croplands. We find that enhanced rock weathering could deliver net carbon dioxide removal of 6–30 MtCO2 yr−1 for the United Kingdom by 2050, representing up to 45% of the atmospheric carbon removal required nationally to meet net-zero emissions. This suggests that enhanced rock weathering could play a crucial role in national climate mitigation strategies if it were to gain acceptance across national political, local community and farm scales. We show that it is feasible to eliminate the energy-demanding requirement for milling rocks to fine particle sizes. Co-benefits of enhanced rock weathering include substantial mitigation of nitrous oxide, the third most important greenhouse gas, widespread reversal of soil acidification and considerable cost savings from reduced fertilizer usage. Our analyses provide a guide for other nations to pursue their carbon dioxide removal ambitions and decarbonize agriculture—a key source of greenhouse gases.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Author(s). This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Nature Geoscience. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Medical Research Council MR/T019867/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 27 Apr 2022 10:47 |
Last Modified: | 25 Nov 2022 01:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Nature |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41561-022-00925-2 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:186206 |