ENV100Y5 Chapter 7: Chapter 7.docx

• School: UTM
• Department: Environment
• Course: ENV100Y5
• Professor: Monika Havelka

Document Summary

Central case: mer bleue bog: a 35km^2 protected weland, peat soils formed over 8000 years; up to 6m thick, carbon balance in peat: Interdisciplinary research project studying the influence of climate on carbon balance (viceversa) Soil is a complex material: soil consists of mineral matter, organic matter, water, air, and other gases. Dead and living microorganisms and decaying material. Climate (temperature, precipitation- contributes to erosion of rock) Topography (steepness of slope- cannot retain soil very well) Biological activity (soil microbes and fauna; decomposition and accumulation of organic matter: can take 10,000 years or more to form a well developed soil profile. Soil profile consists of horizons: soil profile= the cross-section of soil as a whole, horizon= layer of soil, layers differ in colour, texture, nutrient content/chemical composition, leaching: dissolved particles move down through horizons. Humus: stable, decomposed organic matter, contributes significantly to soil structure; influences water retention, nutrient content, cation exchange capacity.