Introduction to Enhanced Rock Weathering

Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a method aimed at accelerating a natural geological process to capture and store significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. By crushing basalt rock, ERW increases the surface area available for chemical reactions, allowing carbon in the air to bond with the minerals in the rock to form bicarbonates. This process ultimately facilitates the long-term storage of carbon as these bicarbonates are transported to the oceans. ERW has gained attention due to its potential to leverage existing agricultural practices since farmers already apply crushed rock to their fields, simplifying implementation.