Climate and soil

The location of climates:

• latitude - cooler towards high latitudes.
• altitude - cooler towards high altitudes.
• water - has a moderating effect on temperature
• prevailing winds and atmospheric circulation
• ocean currents and circulation

Examples of climate and location - the Hadley Cell - broad atmospheric circulation

• Tropical Rainforests (Af)
• Warm Desert/Dry (Bwh) climate

Soil orders and processes as they relate to climate

Example of a soil from a Tropical Rainforest (Af) climate

Oxisol - tropical rainforest soils - very fragile and infertile

• tropical humid - intensely leached, practically no humus, low fertility
• laterization - enriched in Fe and Al hydroxide (bauxite)

Example of a soil from a Desert/Dry (Bwh) climate

Aridosol - fertile soils of the Western US desert, arid grass, brush

• alkaline/basic soil -quite fertile, but fragile - little organic matter
• calcification - caliche deposits in B and C horizons
• salinization - precipitation of minerals to the top of the soil