Global chemical weathering dominated by continental arcs since the mid-Palaeozoic

Earth’s plate-tectonic activity regulates the carbon cycle and, hence, climate, via volcanic outgassing and silicate-rock weathering. Mountain building, arc–continent collisions clustering of continents in tropics have all been invoked as controlling weathering flux, with arcs also acting a major contributor dioxide to atmosphere. However, these processes largely considered isolation when reality they are tightly coupled. To properly account for interactions among processes, inherent multi-million-year time lags at play Earth system, we need characterize their complex interdependencies. Here analyse interdependencies over past 400 million years using Bayesian network identify primary relationships, drivers global chemical signal. We find that length continental arcs—the fastest-eroding surface features on Earth—exerts strongest control fluxes. propose rapid drawdown tied arc stabilizes temperatures geological time, contrary widely held view this stability is achieved mainly by delicate balance between seafloor interiors.