What are the five main components of the critical zone?

Key interfaces in the CZ include the land surface- atmosphere interface, the soil-vegetation interface, the va- dose zone-ground water interface, the surface water-ground water interface, the soil-stream interface, and the soil- bedrock interface.

What are critical zone processes?

Critical Zone processes operate on second-to-eon timescales The present structure and functioning of the Critical Zone reflects: short-term responses to events like rainfall and human activities like land-use changes. long-term responses to climatic and tectonic changes over geologic time.

What process are included in erosion?

Erosion involved three processes: detachment (from the ground), transportation (via water or wind), and deposition. The deposition is often in places we don’t want the soil such as streams, lakes, reservoirs, or deltas.

What is the soil critical zone?

Earth’s Critical Zone is the thin surface layer of our planet that extends from the top of the vegetation to the bottom of drinking water aquifers. Soil is at the heart of the Critical Zone and delivers many soil functions that provide important environmental goods and services that are essential for humanity.

Why are soils called the critical zone?

Soil is at the heart of the Critical Zone and delivers many soil functions that provide important environmental goods and services that are essential for humanity. We cannot survive without soil. Earth’s Critical Zone is the thin surface layer that provides most of our life-sustaining resources.

Why are soils at the foundation of the critical zone?

Earth’s Critical Zone is the thin surface layer that provides most of our life-sustaining resources. Soil forms when rock breaks up and dissolves at Earth’s surface, from the action of water with the help of plants and soil organisms.

How many erosional processes are there?

There are four types of erosion: Hydraulic action – this is the sheer power of the waves as they smash against the cliff. Air becomes trapped in the cracks in the rock and causes the rock to break apart. Abrasion – this is when pebbles grind along a rock platform, much like sandpaper.

What are erosional features?

Definition: A land surface shaped by the action of erosion, especially by running water.

How does the Critical Zone work?

Critical Zone processes operate on second-to-eon timescales The Critical Zone is imprinted by important events over seconds, hours, years, millenia, and geologic time. The present structure and functioning of the Critical Zone reflects: short-term responses to events like rainfall and human activities like land-use changes

What are the principal erosional processes in the upper-littoral zone?

The principal erosional processes in the upper-littoral zone of rock platforms are wave and chemical erosion in the upper part of the upper-littoral and, on limestone shores, wave and bioerosion in the lower part. J.A.G. Cooper, in Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science (Second Edition), 2013

How much of the critical zone is affected by humans?

Humans clearly affect the Critical Zone. Some examples: 30-50% of global land surface and 50% of freshwater has been used by humans. Croplands and pastures now rival forest cover as the major biome on Earth.

How to learn about shoreline processes and coastal evolution?

To learn about shoreline processes and coastal evolution, wave refraction and erosion, sediment transport and deposition, and submergent and emergent coastlines through a series of schematic diagrams, follow this hyperlink: