Soils as a key component of the critical zone 1 : functions and services /
edited by Jacques Berthelin, Christian Valentin, Jean Charles Munch.
- 1 online resource : illustrations.
- Environmental sciences. Soil set ; volume 1 .
- Environmental sciences research report. Soil set ; v. 1. .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Cover; Half-Title Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Foreword; 1. Soils as a Key Component of the Critical Zone; 1.1. What are soils?; 1.2. The Earth, land, soils, soil cover and the Critical Zone; 1.3. The term "soil" has various meanings according to use and function processes; 1.4. The concept of soil varies according to the user; 1.4.1. Agricultural sector; 1.4.2. Scientific communities; 1.4.3. Urban communities; 1.4.4. Current pressures and questions; 1.5. The approaches and procedures of soil scientists and pedologists 1.6. Two principles to take into account: geographical continuity and multi-temporality1.6.1. Principle of continuity; 1.6.2. Principle of multi-temporality; 1.7. Nature, organization and major modes of soil processes; 1.7.1. Soils before the arrival of humans; 1.7.2. Specifics and origins of the Earth's soils; 1.7.3. The parameters controlling differentiation and diversity of soils; 1.8. The functions and services of soils; 1.8.1. Major functions; 1.8.2. Services provided by soils; 1.8.3. The role of soils within our culture and our history 1.9. The need and significance of soil information systems1.10. Conclusion and recommendation; 1.11. Bibliography; 2. Understanding Soils for Their More Efficient Management: A National Soil Information System; 2.1. Introduction; 2.2. The inventory and monitoring of soils in Europe and in the world; 2.3. National mechanisms for the acquisition of soil data; 2.3.1. Issues and demands; 2.3.2. Structuring of national data collection mechanisms; 2.4. Data exploitation for the production of maps and indicators; 2.5. Dissemination and availability of data 2.5.1. A national soil information system focused on data dissemination2.5.2. A progressive enrichment of data and metadata supply; 2.5.3. Assisting the use, improvement and control of data; 2.6. Conclusion; 2.7. Bibliography; 3. Soils and Regulation of the Hydrological Cycle; 3.1. The soil -- facilitator within the hydrological cycle; 3.2. Soil control mechanisms; 3.2.1. Infiltration-runoff partition; 3.2.2. Aquifer recharge; 3.2.3. Evaporation and transpiration flows; 3.2.4. Capillary rise; 3.2.5. Soil water budget; 3.2.6. Hydrological flows along hillslopes 3.3. Impacts on the hydrological cycle at soil cover scale3.3.1. Influence of soil and land use variations; 3.3.2. Influence of land use changes; 3.3.3. Influence of landscape infrastructures; 3.4. Conclusions; 3.5. Bibliography; 4. Soils as Bio-physicochemical Reactors; 4.1. What is a reactor?; 4.2. Soil components; 4.3. Reactivity drivers; 4.4. Main reactions within soils; 4.4.1. Master variables: pH and pe; 4.4.2. Acid-base reactions; 4.4.3. Reactions of oxido-reduction; 4.4.4. Degradation of organic matter