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The weathering of rocks at the Earth s surface may remove less greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than previous estimates, says new research from the University of Cambridge.
The findings, published in
PNAS, suggest Earth s natural mechanism for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere via the weathering of rocks may in fact be weaker than scientists had thought - calling into question the exact role of rocks in alleviating warming over millions of years.
The research also suggests there may be a previously unknown sink drawing CO2 from the atmosphere and impacting climate changes over long timescales, which researchers now hope to find.
Muddying the waters: Weathering might remove less atmospheric carbon dioxide than thought phys.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phys.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.