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The Geobiology of Weathering: a 13th Hypothesis

The magnitude of the biotic enhancement of weathering (BEW) has profound implications for the long-term carbon cycle. The BEW ratio is defined as how much faster the silicate weathering carbon sink is under biotic conditions than under abiotic conditions at the same atmospheric pCO2 level and surface temperature. Thus, a 13th hypothesis should be considered in addition to the 12 outlined by Brantley...(2011) regarding the geobiology of weathering: The BEW factor and its evolution over geological time can be inferred from meta-analysis of empirical and theoretical weathering studies. Estimates of the global magnitude of the BEW are presented, drawing from lab, field, watershed data and models of the long-term carbon cycle, with values ranging from one to two orders of magnitude.