Scientists said that crushed rock spread on farm fields can remove CO2 to help regulate our warming world. But removal rates aren't the same in all conditions.
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The 2025 EarthSky Lunar Calendar presale is here! First 100 purchases signed by the legendary Deborah Byrd as a thank you. Get yours today! Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have approximately doubled since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that warms Earth. have approximately doubled since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that warms Earth. Crushed rock can remove CO2 from the atmosphere . Ground-up rock like basalt spread over fields allows CO2 to react with the rocks, converting CO2 into bicarbonate and trapping the carbon in solution. . Ground-up rock like basalt spread over fields allows CO2 to react with the rocks, converting CO2 into bicarbonate and trapping the carbon in solution. But all soils don't react the same with CO2. The method has a huge potential to remove billions of tonnes of CO2 a year, but it needs more study. By Paul Nelson, James Cook University, and Wolfram Buss, Australian National University Crushed rock can remove CO2 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is naturally removed from the air when it reacts with certain types of rock. We can accelerate this process by crushing suitable rocks and spreading them over agricultural fields. This simple method, known as enhanced rock weathering, could vastly increase the rate of CO2 removal from the atmosphere. Modeling studies suggest we could remove billions of tonnes of CO2 annually if we applied crushed rocks to croplands globally. (A tonne equals 1.1 ton). The current energy-related emissions are at 37 billion tonnes (40 billion tons) a year. So this means enhanced weathering could contribute in a big way to reaching net zero emissions. A new industry is rapidly emerging to do just that. But before everyone gets too carried away, it's crucial to be able to measure how much CO2 this technique captures. Both industry and governments will need accurate measurements for effective policy, regulation and…