Chemical weathering rates and CO2 consumption in the Savuto basin (Sila Massif, Italy) inferred from riverine water chemistry

The aim of this work was to estimate the silicates (SWR) and carbonates (CWR) weathering rates as well as the CO2 consumption in the Savuto basin (Sila Massif, Southern Italy), studying the riverine water chemistry. Six sampling sites were investigated. Starting from the rain composition, atmospheric and anthropogenic inputs were subtracted to total dissolved load allowing the estimation of the SWR and CWR. The obtained weathering rates are: (i) SWR= 9.6 t/km2a and (ii) CWR= 12.8 t/km2. Moreover, an indirect estimation of CO2 moles consumed was performed based on the reaction stoichiometry for both silicate (CO2 sil) and carbonate (CO2 carb) weathering processes. The results show that the consumption of CO2 sil is equal to 2.2x105 mol/Km2 a, whereas the consumption of CO2 carb is equal to 3.5x105 mol/Km2 a.