Soil Functions: Connecting Earth's Critical Zone

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Banwart ◽  
Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis ◽  
Yong-Guan Zhu ◽  
Caroline L. Peacock ◽  
Donald L. Sparks
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Control Point ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Resource Provisioning ◽  
Human Intervention ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Bedrock Weathering ◽  
Earth’S Critical Zone

Soil is the central interface of Earth's critical zone—the planetary surface layer extending from unaltered bedrock to the vegetation canopy—and is under intense pressure from human demand for biomass, water, and food resources. Soil functions are flows and transformations of mass, energy, and genetic information that connect soil to the wider critical zone, transmitting the impacts of human activity at the land surface and providing a control point for beneficial human intervention. Soil functions are manifest during bedrock weathering and, in fully developed soil profiles, correlate with the porosity architecture of soil structure and arise from the development of soil aggregates as fundamental ecological units. Advances in knowledge on the mechanistic processes of soil functions, their connection throughout the critical zone, and their quantitative representation in mathematical and computational models define research frontiers that address the major global challenges of critical zone resource provisioning for human benefit. ▪ Connecting the mechanisms of soil functions with critical zone processes defines integrating science to tackle challenges of climate change and food and water supply. ▪ Soil functions, which develop through formation of soil aggregates as fundamental eco-logical units, are manifest at the earliest stages of critical zone evolution. ▪ Global degradation of soil functions during the Anthropocene is reversible through positive human intervention in soil as a central control point in Earth's critical zone. ▪ Measurement and mathematical translation of soil functions and critical zone processes offer new computational approaches for basic and applied geosciences research.

scholarly journals Economic Valuation of Earth’s Critical Zone: A Pilot Study of the Zhangxi Catchment, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1699
Author(s):  
Wan Nie ◽  
Hongyan Guo ◽  
Lei Yang ◽  
Yaoyang Xu ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Physical System ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Yangtze River Delta ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Earth’S Critical Zone

Earth’s critical zone is the physical layer contained between the top of the vegetation canopy and the depth of the circulating groundwater below the land surface. The critical zone is defined within the study of Earth natural sciences as the unique terrestrial biophysical system that supplies most life-sustaining resources for humans. A feature of this specific physical system that is defined by geographical locale is the interactions of people with the vertically-connected biophysical flows and transformations (energy, material, biodiversity) that contribute to human welfare by delivering, both directly and indirectly, critical zone services to humankind. We have characterized these interactions by considering the full extent of the critical zone through the application of economic valuation methods. We estimated the current economic value of 14 critical zone services for 5 biophysical components of Earth’s critical zone, based on data collected from the Zhangxi catchment of Ningbo city located in the Yangtze River Delta region of China and from several additional published studies. For the full vertical extent of Earth’s critical zone bounded by the Zhangxi catchment, the value, most of which is outside the market, was estimated to be USD 116 million in 2018. Valuation of goods and services was delineated for benefits arising from key components of the critical zone physical system. The estimated value of the atmospheric component of Earth’s critical zone was USD 5 million; the vegetation component value was USD 96 million; the soil component value was USD 8 million; the surface water component value was USD 5 million; and the groundwater component value was USD 2 million. Because of the nature of the uncertainties and lack of data for the full range of identified services, these values are considered a minimum estimate. Gross domestic product in the Zhangxi catchment was around USD 431 million in 2018. These results illustrate, for one location, the range of services that arise when considering the full depth of Earth’s critical zone, the data needs for valuing this range of services, and the conceptual and potential methodological advances, and the challenges, that exist at the disciplinary interface between Earth natural sciences and applied economics.

Shattered crust: how brittle deformation enables Critical Zone processes beneath southern Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dhansay
Keyword(s):  
Water Movement ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Upper Crust ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Structural Mapping ◽  
Groundwater Aquifers ◽  
Igneous Provinces ◽  
Tectonic Zones ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Earth’S Critical Zone

Abstract The delicate interplay of various Earth’s systems processes in the Critical Zone is vital in ensuring an equilibrium across the different spheres of life. The upper crust forms a thin veneer on the Earth’s surface that is defined by an interconnected network of brittle structures. These brittle structures enable various Earth System processes. Increased anthropogenic interactions within the very upper crust have seemingly resulted in a growing number of negative natural effects, including induced seismicity, mine water drainage and land degradation. Brittle structures across South Africa are investigated. These structures include various fractures and dykes of different ages and geodynamic evolutions. The orientation of these structures is compared to the underlying tectonic domains and their bounding suture zones. The orientations corroborate an apparent link between the formation of the brittle structures and the tectonic evolution of the southern African crust. Reactivation and the creation of new structures are also apparent. These are linked to the variability of the surrounding stress field and are shown to have promoted magmatism, e.g., Large Igneous Provinces, and the movement of hydrothermal fluids. These fluids were commonly responsible for the formation of important mineral deposits. The preferred structural orientations and their relationship to underlying tectonic zones are also linked to fractured groundwater aquifers. Subsurface groundwater displays a link to structural orientations. This comparison is extended to surficial water movement. Surface water movement also highlights an apparent link to brittle structures. The apparent correlation between these Earth’s systems processes and the interconnectivity developed by brittle structures are clear. This highlights the importance of high-resolution geological and structural mapping and linking this to further development of the Earth’s Critical Zone.

scholarly journals The influence of para-seismic vibrations, induced by blasting works, on structures: a Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 02001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wacław Andrusikiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Control Point ◽  
Control Room ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Blasting Operation ◽  
Seismic Vibrations ◽  
Harmful Effects ◽  
Seismic Impacts

Underground mining operations are often associated with the necessity to use explosives. Several hundreds of kilograms of explosives, subdivided into small charges suitable for a specific mining job, are used each time in a blasting operation. In many cases, mining engineers carry out remote central blasting works, which means that all the charges placed at faces are initiated from one control point (usually, a control room in the mine) at the same time. Such coordinated explosions generate para-seismic movements whose consequences can be felt on land surface, with subsequent effects identified in buildings and structures. This paper discusses briefly selected standards applicable to the harmful para-seismic impacts. The author presents the results of the research conducted with the intention to identify harmful effects of the basting works carried out in the “Kłodawa” Salt Mine.

The Earth’s Critical Zone Science and its Research Progress

2013 ◽  
Vol 295-298 ◽  
pp. 2138-2142
Author(s):  
Wei Hua Zhang ◽  
Yan Yang ◽  
Jun Ying Jin
Keyword(s):  
Critical Zone ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Climatic Anthropogenic ◽  
Interdisciplinary Concept ◽  
Earth’S Critical Zone ◽  
Tectonic Forcing

A promising and involving interdisciplinary concept-the earth’s critical zone science is introduced in this paper. Within the earth’s Critical Zone, the coupled chemical, physical and biological processes which define Earth’s weathering engine are driven by climatic, anthropogenic, and tectonic forcing. Followed by the concept and specific questions related to the critical zone were given. Finally, current research in order to understand the Critical zone was reviewed.

scholarly journals A New Focus on the Neglected Carbonate Critical Zone

Eos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Martin ◽  
Paloma De Grammont ◽  
Matthew Covington ◽  
Laura Toran
Keyword(s):  
Critical Zone ◽  
Earth’S Critical Zone

Studies of Earth’s critical zone have largely focused on areas underlain by silicate bedrock, leaving gaps in our understanding of widespread and vital carbonate-dominated landscapes.

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