Fig. The global water cycle and its CO2 sinks (italic numbers, in Pg C/a; water fluxes from Shiklomanov (1993)).(http://www.elsevier.com/locate/earscirev)

Based on the years of field monitoring evidence and the theoretical calculations, Prof. LIU Zaihua from the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry (SKLEG) in the Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of sciences (IGCAS) found an important atmospheric CO2 sink formed by the global water cycle.  This carbon sink, generally referred to carbonate weathering-related carbon sink, is a combined action of carbonate dissolution, global water cycle and the photosynthetic uptake of DIC by aquatic organisms.  The sink is about seven hundred million tons per year, accounting for about 25% of the missing global carbon sink.

Prof. LIU’s finding suggested a new direction to find missing carbon sink through theoretical calculation and prediction.  As a hot topic in the global change research, this study was honored as the "Top Ten News of China’s basic research in 2007", and was highlighted as a landmark research accomplishment in the “Eleventh Five-Year" State Major Science and Technology Achievements Exhibition in March 2011.  The follow-up comprehensive study of this topic led to a publication in the top-ranked international journal in Earth Science "Earth-science Reviews” (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/earscirev).

The national recognition delighted Prof. LIU Zaihua.  He indicated that the uncertainty of carbon sink estimation is currently still under study, and it will anticipate more breakthroughs in the near future.  Prof. LIU also said that his research team has definitely picked up more momentum through showcase of their work in the “Eleventh Five-Year" State Major Science and Technology Achievements Exhibition.