Back
48· Steady
Health & Science3h 39m ago
A new study published in Nature shows that rock weathering increasingly counteracts river CO₂ emissions as permafrost degrades, revealing a more complex picture than permafrost solely being a greenhouse gas source.
Archive Window: 7 Days Left
Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Who
researchers from Umeå University and East China Normal University, Liwei Zhang, Jan Karlsson
What
A new study published in Nature shows that rock weathering increasingly counteracts river CO₂ emissions as permafrost degrades, revealing a more complex picture than permafrost solely being a greenhouse gas source.
When
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:08:00 GMT · 3h 39m ago
Where
Qinghai–Tibet Plateau ·
Why
Warming and permafrost degradation expose reactive minerals and increase water–rock interactions, accelerating chemical weathering processes that consume CO₂.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
This research reveals a counteracting natural process to carbon emissions from thawing permafrost, suggesting that some geological carbon uptake can partially or fully offset river CO₂ emissions in certain areas. It highlights the need for climate models to incorporate both biological and geological carbon cycles when assessing the overall effect of thawing permafrost on climate warming.
Story chain
3 events in this thread- Health & Science3h 39m agoA new study found that as permafrost thaws, rivers develop a capacity to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) through intensified rock weathering, which can partially or fully offset river CO₂ emissions.Open article
- Currently Reading3h 39m agoA new study published in Nature shows that rock weathering increasingly counteracts river CO₂ emissions as permafrost degrades, revealing a more complex picture than permafrost solely being a greenhouse gas source.
- Health & Science3h 39m agoA new study indicates that as permafrost thaws, intensified rock weathering in rivers can counteract CO₂ emissions, with carbon uptake sometimes exceeding emissions.Open article