Quantification of ERW: Suggesting the concept of “scopes” for MRV
Drawing from our experience, we hereby propose the concept of “scopes” to simplify the process. This concept is also used in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard to categorize greenhouse gas emissions
Welcome to the journey of “Project Carbdown,” our three-year mission to understand and measure the in-situ effects of enhanced rock weathering (ERW) as a means of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). In an ideal world, we could measure every process along the way and verify the results. But reality is more complex, a little like assembling a puzzle with some pieces missing.
Drawing from our experience, we hereby propose the concept of “scopes” to simplify the process. This concept is also used in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard to categorize greenhouse gas emissions. We'll apply this same idea to ERW.
Note: This explanation is intentionally simplified to make a complex process more accessible.
MRV Approaches for ERW
When discussing "MRV" (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) for rock weathering, misunderstandings often arise because people refer to different "scopes" related to measurement and calculation. Imagine trying to compare apples and oranges; buyers and sellers may have different expectations about what's being measured and how (and also what time scales are involved).
Why does this confusion happen? It's because measuring climate effects becomes more challenging the further we move away from the actual spreading of rock, which is the simplest part. Think of it as trying to trace a river's path from its mouth to its source; the journey of the dissolved rock dust gets longer and more complex as we go from field to ocean over months or even decades.
Unlike simpler carbon dioxide removal methods, ERW's complexity makes it nearly impossible to measure every detail across the full capture and storage process. As we intend to spread rock over huge areas in the future, we will have to rely on models and assumptions, using safety buffers to cover uncertainties. But to enable these models we need quantifications at a smaller scale first.
The ways to quantify these effects vary, including measuring tons of spread rock, dissolution rates of minerals, or even total alkalinity in leachates. It's a multifaceted process, like using different tools to build a complex structure.
THE 4 SCOPES FOR MRV OF ERW
Visit our blog for an explanation of this graph:
