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Surficial processes and soil development

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Theorize the difference in soil development in adjoining soils developed on forested, sloped area versus a grassed flat area. What are the soil-forming factors? Explain the importance of the nature of the parent material to soil formation and type. Then, cite at least 2 examples in which the influence of parent materials might be outweighed by other soil-forming factors. Explain the "struggle" between the internal and external processes in shaping the Earth's surface. What are the different ways that the surface of the Earth is changed over time?

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Solution Summary

Answer adresses two question. The first regards the parameters of soil development. The other regards Earth's surficial processes. Answer includes an HTML file with reference links

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The major soil forming parameters are time, climate (temperature and precipitation) and parent material (type and thickness) .. however, such things as slope, compass direction, or vegetation can make a substantial difference in the end-result soil. For instance, in your scenario, a sloped forested region will have leaf litter. low sunlight and run-off as factors, while a grassy bit will have a more open, sunny domain with less natural run-off.

Parent material gives us the "base" of what the other factors have to work with, or the mineralogical substrate. This will be modified by the extant weathering processes and the build-up of organic matter depending on what the local vegetative regime is. These can be broken down into the two main rock classes of granitic versus basaltic - with the former tending to give higher pH soils as the more acidic Basalts (all other things being equal) [see Section V of the book in the ...

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