EESB05H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Gelisol, Chernozem, Permafrost
Document Summary
Lecture 2 origins of soils & taxonomy. Soil - dynamic natural bodies having properties from combined effect of climate/biotic activities, as modified by topography, acting on parent material over periods of time: 5 key soil forming factors: climate, biota, topography, parent material, time. Degree of which 5 keys forming factors act on rock and for how long result in drastically different soils. Where does soil originate? (begins with parent material) Physical weathering disintegration (water freezing/liquefying, heat, winds, trees breaking rocks into small pieces: temperature, abrasion, plants/animals. From parent material to actual compounds that make up soil depends on 5 key factors and range of physical/chemical weathering: soils highly variable/diverse. To properly diagnose/manage human influences on soils. Practical applications in terms of: forecasting present/future soil productivity (resources, understanding present/future soil biochemistry, prescribing environmentally sound soil restoration measure, key job in environmental careers. What do soils look like in highly diverse landscape (heterogeneous sections)
