Wu et al. (2024): Prospects for the potential carbon sink effects of afforestation to enhance weathering in China

Weihua Wu, Werner Nel, Junfeng Ji, Jun Chen IN: Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 276, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2024.106370

Previously, afforestation as a carbon sink was primarily evaluated in terms of the biomass carbon pool and soil organic carbon pool. Plants play a significant role in enhancing the chemical weathering of rocks and minerals, which can lead to more CO₂ consumption. However, role of plants in enhancing chemical weathering and contributing to CO₂ removal has not been considered when calculating the artificial sink. This paper reviews relevant studies on the carbon sinks from weathering and forest biomass in China and synthesizes the research on how plants affecting weathering in natural ecosystems.

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