Susan Brantley on Earth’s Geological Thermostat

Glossary

Arrhenius equation – a formula characterizing the rate constant of a reaction as dependent on the exponent of the activation energy divided by the ambient temperature.

Erosive-transport-limited regime – region where the silicate minerals are buried and the rate of weathering varies with the erosion rate.

Kinetic-limited regime – region where the silicate minerals are exposed on the land surface and the rate of weathering is governed by chemical reaction kinetics. 

Runoff-limited transport – transport of dissolved minerals limited by the amount of water flow.

Sequestration - a chemical process in which atmospheric carbon dioxide reacts with minerals in the presence of water to produce insoluble carbonates.

Wilson Cycle – an approximately 500-mllion-year cycle in which continents assemble into supercontinents and then rift apart again.

Weathering front – (author’s term) – the buried surface defining the boundary of unreacted silicate minerals.