AUENV 233 Study Guide - Winter 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Weathering, Soil Horizon, Soil Classification

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Augustana Faculty - Environmental Studies
• Course: AUENV 233
• Professor: Glen Hveenegard

Document Summary

Lecture 1 auenv 233: soil natural body made up of definition is broad, solids minerals, organic matter, liquid, gas. Is a soil because it can house plant roots, but has no horizons. Regulation of water supplies: every drop of water has travelled through or over soil at one point storage and flow regulation can prevent floods [vegetation, eg mud slides are a result of forest fires. No veg to soak up water: purification cleans the water. Recycling of raw materials: decomposition of materials, creation of soil matter, nutrient re-release converts from unusable forms [dead body] into more accessible forms. Fosters unimaginable biodiversity: ecosystem unto itself, handful of soil = billions of organisms. Influence the atmosphere composition: storage and release of gases such as co2, key role in c cycle, 3rd largest pool on earth! [next to ocean, rocks/parent material: can act as a sink or source [organisms within breathing, management intensity has an influence.