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Foto Zhengyao Lu

Zhengyao Lu

Researcher

Foto Zhengyao Lu

Precessional variation of monsoon-controlled silicate weathering caused steady atmospheric carbon dioxide consumption during glacial periods

Author

  • Debo Zhao
  • Shiming Wan
  • Xiangtong Huang
  • Zhengyao Lu
  • Peter D. Clift
  • Dongyong Li
  • Xiting Liu
  • Yifei Yang
  • Shoushu Jiang
  • Anni Lin

Summary, in English

Silicate weathering regulates climate as a critical carbon sink, yet understanding its role in the carbon cycle is challenging because of limited knowledge about the impact of temperature and rainfall on weathering during glacial-interglacial cycles. Here we investigated the orbital scale of silicate weathering variations and their role in atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration using reconstructions, model simulations, and modern river sediment geochemical data. Results show that silicate weathering intensity in subtropical and tropical monsoon regions follows the precession cycle and is mainly controlled by rainfall. During glacial periods, global carbon dioxide consumption by silicate weathering was lower than interglacials but remained stable at ~2.47 Teramoles per year. We propose that ice sheet expansion confined intense weathering to the subtropics and tropics during glacial times. As insolation patterns shifted with the precession cycle, rainfall belts oscillated between hemispheres, maintaining a constant weathering area and stable carbon dioxide consumption. Our study provides insights into silicate weathering’s role in the global carbon cycle, both historically and in future projections.

Department/s

  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
  • MERGE: ModElling the Regional and Global Earth system
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2025-12

Language

English

Publication/Series

Communications Earth and Environment

Volume

6

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer Nature

Topic

  • Physical Geography
  • Climate Science

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2662-4435