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Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

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The Anthropogenic Salt Cycle.

Sujay S Kaushal¹, Gene E Likens^2,3, Paul M Mayer⁴

¹Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.

Nature Reviews. Earth & Environment

|March 22, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human activities are accelerating salt cycles, leading to widespread freshwater salinization syndrome. Urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible environmental damage from excess salt.

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Area of Science:

Earth System Science
Environmental Science
Hydrology

Background:

Increasing global salt production and usage disrupts natural salt ion balances.
This disruption causes interconnected effects across biophysical systems, termed freshwater salinization syndrome.
The natural salt cycle, driven by slow geologic and hydrologic processes, is being overwhelmed by anthropogenic activities.

Purpose of the Study:

To conceptualize the natural salt cycle.
To synthesize global trends in salt production and riverine salt concentrations/fluxes.
To highlight the impacts of the anthropogenic salt cycle and freshwater salinization syndrome.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing literature on salt production and fluxes.
Conceptualization of the natural and anthropogenic salt cycles.
Analysis of global trends and case studies (e.g., USA salt budget).

Main Results:

Global salt production has surged, with ~300 Mt of NaCl produced annually.
Anthropogenic activities have accelerated salt fluxes, altering natural cycles.
Riverine salt fluxes can rival anthropogenic inputs, leading to watershed accumulation and widespread salinization.

Conclusions:

Freshwater salinization syndrome extends beyond water, impacting food, energy, air quality, health, and infrastructure.
Environmental limits and thresholds for salt ions must be identified.
Reducing salinization is critical to prevent exceeding planetary boundaries and causing irreversible damage.