A global temperature control of silicate weathering intensity

Silicate weathering, a crucial negative feedback mechanism, regulates Earth's climate. This study examines the relationship between silicate weathering intensity and various environmental parameters using a global compilation of modern sediment data (n=3828). The results show that temperature is the primary control on silicate weathering, with feldspar dissolution increasing monotonically with temperature (0–30 °C). Precipitation and topographic-lithological factors exhibit regional and subordinate influences. The non-linear temperature effect on feldspar dissolution is attributed to the depletion of more reactive plagioclase at higher temperatures. The findings suggest a stronger temperature-weathering feedback at lower surface temperatures and support the hypothesis of increased land surface reactivity during the late Cenozoic cooling.

Kai Deng, Shouye Yang, Yulong Guo