Animating the biodynamics of soil thickness using process vector analysis: a dynamic denudation approach to soil formation

Johnson, Donald L.; Domier, Jane E.J.; Johnson, Diana N.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.08.014

Cited by 63 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…The soil thickness model was elaborated by Johnson et al (2005), and adapted by Phillips et al (2005). In principle, the following processes contribute to soil thickness (T):…”

Section: Techniques For the Determination Of Soil Formation Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil formation rates on silicate parent material in alpine environments: Different approaches–different results?

2014

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High-mountain soils develop in particularly sensitive environments. Consequently, deciphering and predicting what drives the rates of soil formation in such environments are a major challenge. In terms of soil production or formation from chemical weathering, the predominating perception for highmountain soils and cold environments is often that the chemical weathering 'portion' of soil development is temperature-inhibited, often to the point of non-occurrence. Several concepts exist to determine longterm rates of soil formation and development. We present three different approaches: (1) quantification of soil formation from minimally eroded soils of known age using chronosequences (known surface age and soil thickness -SAST), (2) determination of soil residence times (SRT) and production rates through chemical weathering using (un)stable isotopes (e.g. 230Th/234U activity ratios), and (3) a steady state approach using cosmogenic isotopes (e.g. 10Be). For each method, data from different climate zones, and particularly from high-mountains (alpine environment), are compared. The SAST and steady state approach give quite similar results for alpine environments (European Alps and the Wind River Range (Rocky Mountains, USA)). Using the SRT approach, soil formation rates in mountain areas (but having a temperate climate) do not differ greatly from the SAST and steady state approaches. Independent of the chosen approach, the results seem moderately comparable. Soil formation rates in high-mountain areas (alpine climate) range from very low to extremely high values and show a clear decreasing tendency with time. Very young soils have up to 3-4 orders of magnitude higher rates of development than old soils (105 to 106 yr). This apparently is a result of kinetic limits on weathering in regions having young surfaces and supply limits to weathering on old surfaces. Due to the requirement for chemical weathering to occur, soil production rates cannot be infinitely high. Consequently, a speed limit must exist. In the literature, this limit has been set at about 320 to 450 t/km2/a. Our results from the SAST approach show, however, that in alpine areas soil formation easily reaches rates of up to 800-2000 t/km2/a. These data are consistent with previous studies in mountain regions demonstrating that particularly young soils intensively weather, even under continuous seasonal snowpack and, thus, that the concept of 'temperature-controlled' soil development (soil-forming intervals) in alpine regions must be reconsidered. High-mountain soils develop in particularly sensitive environments. Consequently, deciphering and predicting what drives the rates of soil formation in such environments are a major challenge. In terms of soil production or formation from chemical weathering, the predominating perception for high-mountain soils and cold environments is often that the chemical weathering 'portion' of soil development is temperature-inhibited, often to the point of non-occurrence. Several concepts exist to determine long...

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“…The soil thickness model was elaborated by Johnson et al (2005), and adapted by Phillips et al (2005). In principle, the following processes contribute to soil thickness (T):…”

Section: Techniques For the Determination Of Soil Formation Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil formation rates on silicate parent material in alpine environments: Different approaches–different results?

2014

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“…At pedon scale one has to distinguish between two main process groups (see also Johnson, 1985;Johnson et al, 2005;Phillips et al, 2005):…”

Section: Modelling Pedogenesis In Soil Landscapes -General Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling soil landscape genesis — A “time split” approach for hummocky agricultural landscapes

2008

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“…Models of soil thickness as an outcome of the interaction of weathering and surface erosion can be viewed as a special case of the soil thickness model, where the other processes in the latter are considered to be absent or of negligible importance. The soil thickness model was further elaborated by Johnson et al (2005), and adapted by . The latter considered two forms of deepening-bedrock weathering (W), and bioturbation (B).…”

Section: Soil Thickness Conceptual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The convenient fiction of steady-state soil thickness

Phillips

2010

Geoderma

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Animating the biodynamics of soil thickness using process vector analysis: a dynamic denudation approach to soil formation

Cited by 63 publications

References 29 publications

Soil formation rates on silicate parent material in alpine environments: Different approaches–different results?

Soil formation rates on silicate parent material in alpine environments: Different approaches–different results?

Modelling soil landscape genesis — A “time split” approach for hummocky agricultural landscapes

The convenient fiction of steady-state soil thickness

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