GPHY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Soil Classification, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Geography
• Course: GPHY 102
• Professor: Dr.Trezino

Document Summary

Science and systems of the human environment, 5th. Soil systems (cid:149) describe the characteristics of soils. (cid:149) understand soil water budgets. (cid:149) examine processes responsible for soil development. (cid:149) introduce soil classification system. Soils (cid:149) uppermost layer of land surface; important interface between biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere (cid:149) formation of soil is impacted by 5 main factors: Influences physical and chemical properties: topography (cid:149) Affects rate and fate of runoff, and therefore soil depth, moisture, and nutrient content: climate (cid:149) (cid:149) Temperature affects rates of decay of organic matter: biological activity (cid:149) Decomposing vegetation adds to pool of soil organic matter (cid:149) organisms in soil affect rate of cycling: time (cid:149) Soil: the natural surface layer of the earth that contains living matter and can support plants. Consists of matter in all three states (solid, liquid, and gas) Includes both mineral and organic (humus) matter. Soil development (cid:149) soils develop over long periods of time.