Relief and Microclimate as Related to Soil Properties

Abstract

MAcYK, T. M., PewruK, S. AND LrNosey, J. D. 1978. Relief and microclimate as related to soil properties. This study was undertaken to determine the influence of relief and microclimate on soil properties. Seven sites were chosen at different positions on the nofth-and south-facing slopes of a moderately rolling till knob. Physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses were conducted to characterize the soils at each of the sites. The vegetation of the area was described and soil temperatures and moisture were monitored at four depths. Redox potential and pH were measured to detect seasonal variations. Data for oxalate and dithionite-extractable iron and aluminum, cation exchange capacity, and X-ray diffraction showed only minor differences among the seven pedons along the slope faces. Soil temperature was higher on the south-facing slope than on the north-facing slope and air temperature was usually higher than soil temperature at the 10-cm depth. Soil moisture regime varied with position in the landscape. The soil on the nonh-facing slope was generally more moist than the soil on the south-facing slope. Redox potential varied seasonally and appeared to be related to the moisture content of the soil.

Melting Glaciers and Soil Development in the Proglacial Area Morteratsch (Swiss Alps): I. Soil Type Chronosequence

“…Gruber et al, 2004). Several studies show the influence of slope aspect and the resulting microclimate on soil weathering and development (Cooper, 1960;Klemmedson, 1964;Macyk et al, 1978;Carter and Ciolkosz, 1991;Rech et al, 2001). Higher temperatures on south-facing slopes should theoretically increase rates of chemical weathering (Rech et al, 2001).…”

Which way do you lean? Using slope aspect variations to understand Critical Zone processes and feedbacks

“…Soil properties also exhibit clear slope aspect relationships in mid‐ to high‐latitude locations that have mean‐annual temperatures less than approximately 5°C, but that differ in part from those of their warmer counterparts (Macyk et al, ; Hunckler and Schaetzl, ; Egli et al ., , ; Eger and Hewitt, ). Specifically, pole‐facing hillslopes exhibit thicker soils, increased organic matter accumulation, and greater leaching intensity, chemical weathering and podsolization relative to equator‐facing hillslopes.…”

Estimating the Time Since Final Stabilization of a Perched Dune Field Along Lake Superior

“…Although this diversity could be a function of time (i.e., the thickest soils formed in dunes which have been stable the longest), this is not believed to be the case. Spodosols are highly sensitive to microgeographic influences, including leaf-litter distribution (Alexander 1986), microclimate (Macyk et al 1978;Hunkler and Schaetzl 1997), and the proximity to trees (Crampton 1982). Schaetzl et al (1990) demonstrated that microtopographic changes caused by treethrow results in significant spatial variability in Spodosols.…”