New Frontiers in Paleopedology and Terrestrial Paleoclimatology

New Frontiers in Paleopedology and Terrestrial Paleoclimatology PDF

Author: Steven G. Driese

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781565763227

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After initial breakthroughs in the discovery of fossil soils, or paleosols in the 1970s and early 1980s, the last several decades of intensified research have revealed the much greater role that these deposits can play in reconstructing ancient Earth surface systems. Research currently focuses on terrestrial paleoclimatology, in which climates of the past are reconstructed at temporal scales ranging from hundreds to millions of years, using paleosols as archives of that information. Such research requires interdisciplinary study of soils conducted in both modern and ancient environments. These issues and many others were discussed at the joint SEPM-NSF Workshop "Paleosols and Soil Surface Analog Systems", held at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona in September of 2010. The papers presented in this volume are largely an extension of that workshop and cover topics ranging from historical perspectives, followed by lessons from studies of surface soil systems, with examples crossing between soils and applications to paleosols. The remainder of the volume begins with an examination of the relationship between paleosols and alluvial stratigraphy and depositional systems, and ends with three case studies of ancient soil systems. Because some readers may find the nomenclature rather "foreign" the editors have included a glossary of pedological terms at the end of the volume. These papers incorporate data from studies of surface soil systems as well as deep-time sedimentary rock successions and are designed to provide sedimentary geologists with an overview of our current knowledge of paleosols and their use in interpreting past climates, landscapes, and atmospheric chemistry.

The Northern Forest Border in Canada and Alaska

The Northern Forest Border in Canada and Alaska PDF

Author: James A. Larsen

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13: 1461387914

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It is enough to work on the assumption that all of the details matter in the end, in some unknown but vital way. Edward O. Wilson, Biophilia Advances in knowledge of northern ecology have been so rapid that to undertake a synthesis of all the literature now available would be a major enterprise, perhaps even a life's work, and so it must be considered permissible to fill in a few gaps, follow one's own inclinations, leaving comprehensive syntheses to those willing to undertake them. This is the rubric under which I have written, reporting some of the more interesting data I and others have obtained over the years, often diverging into discussions of plants, soils, climate, and faunal relationships which have perhaps not previously been dealt with extensively, or at least in quite the same way. This is purely intentional, since I find it difficult to summon up the needed enthusiasm, at this late hour, to write on topics which unfortunately for me have little attraction. I have thus written for the pleasure derived from depicting, perhaps at times as something of an impressionist, a fascinating biotic region, a captivating land, a collection of interesting ecological problems, environmental relationships to be discerned in part, perhaps understood to some small degree, perhaps one day to be modeled mathematically. As Leo Szilard once wrote: ': . . to be able to say even this much might be of some value" (Szilard, 1960).

Hydrogeology, Chemical Weathering, and Soil Formation

Hydrogeology, Chemical Weathering, and Soil Formation PDF

Author: Allen Hunt

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2021-04-06

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1119563968

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Explores soil as a nexus for water, chemicals, and biologically coupled nutrient cycling Soil is a narrow but critically important zone on Earth's surface. It is the interface for water and carbon recycling from above and part of the cycling of sediment and rock from below. Hydrogeology, Chemical Weathering, and Soil Formation places chemical weathering and soil formation in its geological, climatological, biological and hydrological perspective. Volume highlights include: The evolution of soils over 3.25 billion years Basic processes contributing to soil formation How chemical weathering and soil formation relate to water and energy fluxes The role of pedogenesis in geomorphology Relationships between climate soils and biota Soils, aeolian deposits, and crusts as geologic dating tools Impacts of land-use change on soils The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals. Find out more about this book from this Q&A with the Editors