🔆 Crushed Stone on Farms: A New Carbon Capture Tool

📍 What’s happening?
✅ Crushed rock like basalt is being spread on farms globally — including India — to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide
✅ The process is called Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)
✅ It accelerates natural weathering, where rocks break down by rain and bind carbon as bicarbonate
✅ Carbon stored this way can be locked into soils or eventually become limestone

📘 How it works
✅ Basalt rock is ground finely to increase surface area
✅ Rainwater triggers chemical reactions, forming carbonic acid which breaks down rocks
✅ This reaction traps CO₂ from the air or soil as carbonate compounds

📘 Why it matters
✅ Potential to offset emissions by capturing CO₂ from tech firms, airlines, fashion companies
✅ Improves soil alkalinity, boosting crop yields
✅ Helps reduce acidification of rivers and seas
✅ Scientists caution that exact impact varies — trials in Australia showed mixed results

📘 Challenges
✅ Measurement difficulties: Cations released during weathering can interfere
✅ Not fully mature: Still a nascent technology with evolving research
✅ Risk of release of heavy metals if not monitored properly
✅ Requires protective gear for workers

📝 Prelims Question
Q. What is the main goal of Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)?
(a) Increasing soil nitrogen content
(b) Boosting water retention in soil
(c) Capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide ✅
(d) Improving crop resistance to pests

📝 Mains Question (GS3 – Environment)
Q. What is Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and how does it contribute to carbon sequestration? Discuss its scientific basis, benefits, and limitations as a climate change mitigation tool.

UPSC Mapping Prelims Mains

🔆 Crushed Stone on Farms: A New Carbon Capture Tool

📍 What’s happening?
✅ Crushed rock like basalt is being spread on farms globally — including India — to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide
✅ The process is called Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)
✅ It accelerates natural weathering, where rocks break down by rain and bind carbon as bicarbonate
✅ Carbon stored this way can be locked into soils or eventually become limestone

📘 How it works
✅ Basalt rock is ground finely to increase surface area
✅ Rainwater triggers chemical reactions, forming carbonic acid which breaks down rocks
✅ This reaction traps CO₂ from the air or soil as carbonate compounds

📘 Why it matters
✅ Potential to offset emissions by capturing CO₂ from tech firms, airlines, fashion companies
✅ Improves soil alkalinity, boosting crop yields
✅ Helps reduce acidification of rivers and seas
✅ Scientists caution that exact impact varies — trials in Australia showed mixed results

📘 Challenges
✅ Measurement difficulties: Cations released during weathering can interfere
✅ Not fully mature: Still a nascent technology with evolving research
✅ Risk of release of heavy metals if not monitored properly
✅ Requires protective gear for workers

📝 Prelims Question
Q. What is the main goal of Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)?
(a) Increasing soil nitrogen content
(b) Boosting water retention in soil
(c) Capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide ✅
(d) Improving crop resistance to pests

📝 Mains Question (GS3 – Environment)
Q. What is Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and how does it contribute to carbon sequestration? Discuss its scientific basis, benefits, and limitations as a climate change mitigation tool.

#GS3 #Environment #ClimateChange #CarbonCapture #ERW #Agriculture #Prelims2025 #UPSCNotes

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2.49K viewsJun 28 at 20:07