carbonate-silicate cycle

The weathering of silicate rock (see carbonate-silicate cycle).

A 500,000-Year Cycle The carbonate-silicate cycle, the existence of which and its general role in stabilizing the climate are well accepted by scientists, takes place over more than 500,000 years.

Chemical and mechanical erosion of the old lava flows is caused by reactions of the surface with the atmosphere in the presence of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide (see carbonate-silicate cycle for details).