TEMPORARY CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS

Global atmospheric carbon levels have dramatically increased in recent years, reflecting the uptick in hydrocarbon combustion and deforestation. More atmospheric carbon in the form of CO2 further enhances the Greenhouse Effect, which can lead to major disturbances in earth system processes. Due to the major loss of forest land across the globe, it may be tempting to rely on afforestation to sequester the carbon previously located in forest carbon sinks. However, planting trees can be a pitfall to carbon sequestration due to its short-term nature. Instead, emphasis should be placed on returning carbon to the rock record, where it can be stored indefinitely. Through an extensive literature review, I found that inducing chemical weathering of mafic minerals such as olivine can promote carbon sequestration. The dissolution of olivine has been shown to increase ocean carbon uptake, alkalinity, and net primary production. Weathering of olivine also promotes soil regeneration due to the increased availability of nutrients to microbial populations. In mimicking natural processes of weathering and sedimentation carbon can be returned to the rock record, preventing it from reentering the atmosphere. This presentation will encompass the potential benefits of olivine weathering implementation in combatting climate change based on a comprehensive literature review.