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Review
. 2019 Oct;574(7778):343-352.
doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1643-z. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Subducting carbon

Terry Plank  1 , Craig E Manning  2
Affiliations
Review

Subducting carbon

Terry Plank et al. Nature. 2019 Oct.

Erratum in

Abstract

A hidden carbon cycle exists inside Earth. Every year, megatons of carbon disappear into subduction zones, affecting atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen over Earth's history. Here we discuss the processes that move carbon towards subduction zones and transform it into fluids, magmas, volcanic gases and diamonds. The carbon dioxide emitted from arc volcanoes is largely recycled from subducted microfossils, organic remains and carbonate precipitates. The type of carbon input and the efficiency with which carbon is remobilized in the subduction zone vary greatly around the globe, with every convergent margin providing a natural laboratory for tracing subducting carbon.

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References

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