Volcanic Rock Weathering and Riverine Carbon Dynamics: a Bibliometric and State-of-the-art Review
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Weathering of volcanic rocks influences the release of dissolved solutes, alkalinity export, and carbon dynamics in rivers; however, riverine carbon export does not directly correspond to net atmospheric CO2 uptake. This comprehensive review integrates a historical bibliometric analysis of 1,003 Scopus records after deduplication (1981–2026) with a critical synthesis of 35 papers selected from a recent set of 54 studies (2021–2026). Utilizing VOSviewer, keyword co-occurrence and bibliographic coupling analyses facilitate a five-phase chronological and thematic overview. The historical mapping identifies three thematic clusters comprising 128 indexed keywords and 7,506 connections, while the recent coupling network includes 451 links with a total link strength of 1,937. The synthesis underscores advancements from silicate-weathering feedback models over extended timescales to mass balance approaches, volcanic catchment investigations, hydrological controls, and source attribution within the critical zone. Factors such as mineral reactivity, secondary mineral formation, groundwater mixing, hydrothermal contributions, sulfide oxidation, and non-carbonic acidity complicate the interpretation of dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity data. The review introduces a source-informed conceptual framework linking volcanic lithology, weathering profiles, flow pathways, river chemistry, and carbon budgets. These findings provide a literature-derived framework rather than a quantitatively validated carbon budget from field data.
Language: English
Subfield: Geochemistry and Petrology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225628424
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