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Study finds that calcium reduces CO₂ emissions from Arctic soil through mineral formation

Written by Leibniz Zentrum Far Agralandschaftforschung (ZALF) eV

Graphical summary. Credit: Environmental Science and Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07496

In a new study, researchers found that increasing calcium content in soil significantly reduces CO2 emissions. 50% in calcium-poor soils and 57% in calcium-rich soils. The reason is that calcium promotes the formation of the aragonite mineral, which binds CO2 and prevents this greenhouse gas from being released into the atmosphere.

The results could contribute to new approaches to combating the effects of global warming, especially in sensitive Arctic regions exposed to climate change risks. The study is published in the journal Environment Science & Technology.

Calcium reduces CO₂ emissions through the formation of aragonite

As temperatures rise, permafrost in the Arctic is thawing. This not only releases large amounts of organic carbon, but also increases calcium levels in the soil. The study shows that this release of calcium leads to the formation of aragonite, a mineral made of calcium and carbon dioxide. This retains CO2 in the soil, which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.

“The ability of calcium to combine with CO2 through the formation of aragonite is a surprising discovery and shows how important nutrients such as calcium are for climate change,” said study leader Professor Jorg Schaller from ZALF. say. “This result opens new perspectives for integrating these processes into global and regional carbon models.”

Long-term impacts on climate change

The Arctic is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average. Thawing permafrost soil releases carbon dioxide, which could further accelerate climate change.

However, new research shows that calcium may at least partially slow this process. The researchers are now calling for further field experiments to verify these results and integrate the process into climate models.

“Our results represent a first step. However, how stable these calcium mineral compounds are over long periods of time and what factors influence their effectiveness remains to be investigated. “No,” Professor Schaller added.

The findings could have important implications beyond the Arctic, as similar processes are occurring in other regions with calcium-rich soils. In the long term, strategies could be developed to reduce CO2 emissions by intensively concentrating calcium in the soil.

“This could be a valuable approach to tackling the global challenge of climate change,” says Professor Schaller.

Further information: Peter Stimmler et al, Reducing CO2 emissions from Arctic soils by binding CO2 to calcium to form aragonite, Environmental Science and Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07496

Leibniz Agriculture Agricultural City Leibniz Zentrum (ZALF) provided by eV

Citation: Calcium reduces CO₂ emissions from Arctic soils through mineral formation, study (October 17, 2024) available at https://phys.org/news/2024-10-calcium-emissions-arctic-soils Retrieved October 17, 2024 from -mineral. html

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