Remobilization of crustal carbon may dominate volcanic arc emissions

Abstract

Volcanoes find a new carbon platform The geological carbon cycle assumes that carbon is emitted by volcanic eruptions and removed through various forms of burial. Mason et al. found that not all volcanic eruptions have the same source for carbon in their volcanic gas. Arc volcanic activity appears to harvest carbon from old carbonate platforms, which results in a massive difference in the isotopic signature of the carbon emitted during eruption. This discovery requires revision of the global carbon cycle, decreasing the amount of organic carbon believed to be being buried. Science , this issue p. 290