Soil Science: Composition, Structure, and Importance
SOIL: A Vital Subsystem
Soil is a dynamic subsystem that emerges from the intricate interaction between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and Earth’s crust. It is the result of continuous exchanges of matter and energy between these systems, acting as a crucial interface.
Interactions within the Earth System
Gas Exchange with the Atmosphere:
Within the soil, the respiration of organic matter consumes oxygen (O2) and releases carbon dioxide (CO2).
Exchange with the Biosphere:
- The biosphere contributes
Geological Agents: Erosion, Transport, and Sedimentation
Geological Agents
These are fluid systems, formed by water, ice, or air that, due to a potential energy difference between the relief and sedimentary basins, perform the tasks of erosion, transport, and sedimentation.
Solar Energy
Maintains the active water cycle, atmospheric motions, waves, and ocean currents. It enables geological agents to operate.
Erosion
Produces a characteristic molding of the relief that allows us to recognize which geological agents have acted in a zone.
Transport
Geological agents
Read MoreUnderstanding Energy Sources: Natural Gas, Nuclear, and Renewables
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a mixture of combustible gases found underground, often associated with liquid petroleum. The main constituent is methane, while hydrocarbons such as ethane, butane, and propane appear in smaller proportions. The formation of natural gas occurs parallel to oil, resulting from the fermentation of accumulated matter from sediments. Initially, natural gas that appeared in oil fields was burned off as waste. However, the need for new energy sources and the discovery of deposits
Read MoreMajor Relief Units of the Iberian Peninsula
Submeseta North
- Occupied by the Duero basin
- High altitude (700 m)
- Flat relief
- Hercynian Morphostructure:
- Paleozoic rocks in the west
- Tertiary calcareous sediments in the east
- Clays eroded from surrounding mountains
- Landforms: moors, hills, plains, peneplain
Central System
- Great line of mountains in NE-SW direction
- Length: 400 km
- Raised area within the Paleozoic base
- Uplifted blocks (saws) and hollow blocks (valles)
- Hard materials
- Soft peaks
- Glacial modeling in highest mountains
Submeseta South
- Altitude: 600-700 m
- Plain
Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
Climate Change Is Already Here
United Nations Response to Global Change
The United Nations, established in 1988, created the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC predicts an average global temperature increase between 1.5°C and 5.8°C for the current century.
Evidence of Climate Change:
- Retreating glaciers and ice sheets (the saltwater ice layer covering polar oceans). Summer ice cover in the Arctic Ocean has decreased by 14%, and its thickness has reduced by 40%.
- Rising sea levels
Geological Risks: Understanding and Mitigating Natural Hazards
Erosion
Erosion is the removal of materials from an area due to geological processes. It can lead to the loss of soil, sediments, and other resources.
Factors that Increase Erosion
- Rugged slopes
- Lack of vegetation
- Unstable ground materials
- Climate
Preventive Measures
- Determining the most appropriate land use
- Reforestation or terracing
- Maintaining vegetation on slopes
Gravitational Processes
Gravitational processes involve the movement of materials down a slope. They can pose a danger to people and infrastructure.
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