Soft rock in mountains erodes three times faster than hard rock, new study finds

A team led by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers has found that weaker rock in mountain landscapes erodes at a rate three times higher than harder rock, even on slopes that are not steep. The study identifies rock strength as a primary factor in mountain erosion, challenging existing models that link erosion to carbon dioxide release. The scientists suggest that current estimates of CO₂ contributions from mountainous regions may be too low, which could reshape how geologists and climate scientists understand the carbon cycle.

Should carbon cycle models be updated to account for rock type as a major erosion factor?

#geology #climatescience #erosion #carboncycle