Modelling the effect of different carbonate weathering rates on Earth system resilience

Abstract

Carbonate weathering is an important feedback to regulate the carbon cycle and climate of the Earth system. Focus of the behaviour of this feedback has been on geological scales. Little attention has been given to the responses of this feedback to shorter-scale Earth system perturbations, especially how different uplifted masses of carbonate have influenced this strength. Hence, using the Earth system model cGENIE, this study will explore the carbon and climate responses to different carbonate weathering rates, and how these rates produce different resilience to a range past and future carbon perturbations. These experiments have shown a considerable carbon and climate influence from higher carbonate weathering rates. This is especially evident in response to perturbations, where higher carbonate weathering rates show considerable resilience contribution to the system, notably in the longer-term recovery period. This has therefore exposed an important role of carbonate weathering on a previously underappreciated temporal scale. Further, this study has also demonstrated carbonate weathering does have an important control on resilience and recovery direction, hence is an important variable to refine for future impacts and rate of recovery.