Epihov (2026): Less is more: how to capture carbon efficiently – lessons from long-term rock weathering and soil development in natural warm temperate ecosystems
Dimitar Z. Epihov, IN: EarthArXiv (Preprint), https://doi.org/10.31223/X5BZ1J
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) has been proposed as a viable strategy to offset greenhouse gas emissions. The field is currently plagued by uncertainty in the rates of C capture through alkalinity export, resulting from variation in extent and lag due to soil exchange, secondary minerals, and effects on soil organic carbon. Provided are quantitative estimates for weathering losses in these pools using a natural weathering system on a volcanic rock hill, Bulgaria. Two distinct soils are compared: mafic soils derived predominantly from cation-rich basalt (81–85%) with minor dacite (~15–19%), and felsic soils (66% dacite, 34% basalt). Major cations were partitioned into four pools: primary minerals, exchangers, clays, and leached. Leaching accounted for 34% of total cations in felsic soils and 12% in mafic soils.