Themes of the Day:

• Factors that affect Weathering and Soil Development
• Soils
• Erosion, Transport & Deposition of Sediments

Factors that affect Weathering and Soil Development

• Surface area
• Table 7.1
• Figure 7.15

Soils

• Soil is not the same as dirt. (Insult a soil scientist by telling him/her that he/she works with dirt)
• Soils develop as the result of weathering over hundreds or thousands of years
• Soil horizons (layers) reflect migration of weathering products
• Soil types affected by:
  • parent material
  • climate
  • topography
  • vegetation
  • time
• Types of Soil Profiles
  • Pedalfer - temperate, moist climate
  • Pedocal - arid climate
  • Laterite - tropical climate
• Some (not so) local (Sault Ste. Marie, MI) examples:
  • excavation for new building near Glen's Supermarket - closeup
  • Soo West subdivision
  • Goulais Landslide - Birch Tree Block

Erosion, Transport & Deposition of Sediments

• Conditions Necessary for Erosion, Transport, and Deposition
• Strongly linked to weather and the hydrologic cycle
• Transporting media:
  • Water
  • Air/Wind
  • Ice
• Gravity is the ultimate driving force - tectonic and climatic forces contribute
• Sediment Changes During Transport
  • Size decreases
  • Shape becomes more rounded (less angular)
  • Sorting improves - e.g., Poorly sorted sediment becomes well sorted sediment