Carbon mobilized at shallow depths in subduction zones by carbonatitic liquids

Carbon is recycled via Earth’s mantle at subduction zones. Laboratory experiments show that in the presence of water, carbon-rich liquids can form from the subducted crust at low temperatures, providing a supply of CO2 to surface volcanoes. More than half a gigaton of CO2 is subducted into Earth’s interior each year1. At least 40% of this CO2 is returned to the atmosphere by arc volcanism2,3,4. Processes that are known to release carbon from...