GGR227H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Soil Horizon, Soil Retrogression And Degradation, Rock Cycle
Document Summary
Soils: soil formation, horizons/types, properties, degradation, agriculture. The rock cycle: 3 main types of rock. Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary: rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks from one type to another. Weathering and erosion: weathering: breaking down of rocks in the earth"s crust is part of the rock cycle. Important for biogeochemical cycles, soil development, plant nutrients etc: erosion: transport of weathering materials by air, water, ice, mass wasting is the movement of materials by gravity, e. g. rock fall, slumps. Soil development: when weathering products accumulate (no erosion) soil develops. Sediment vs. soil: sediments are re-deposited weathered mineral/rock particles, sediments are deposited by wind or water, soils are not deposited they for(cid:373) where sedi(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts were already deposited, soil forms from parent material. So what are soils: composed of, solids, water, air (n2, o2, co2, ch4, living organisms, distinguishing trait - soils are capable of supporting plant growth.
