How does rock turn into soil?
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Category
STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
Abstract/Artist Statement
In mountainous areas, maximum chemical reactions occur when rock is transformed into soil. When rainwater infiltrates the soil, the majority of the water flows down deep into the bedrock, and the remainder flows laterally through the soil. Water leaches nutrients from the soil and bedrock before flowing into streams. The interface between soil and bedrock influences not only stream quality but also water distribution between soil and bedrock. As the demand for soil and water grows, the processes that control the transformation of bedrock into soil in mountainous areas become increasingly important. The goal of this study is to better understand the processes that govern the transformation of bedrock into soil in mountainous areas. Hillslope steepness, atmospheric carbon dioxide, rainfall, climate, bedrock characteristics, and topography are all factors that influence the transformation of bedrock into soil. A computer simulation will be used to investigate the impact of each process using the program PFLOTRAN. The current computer capability allows a wide range of possible scenarios affecting the transformation of bedrock into soil over hundreds of thousands of years to be simulated. The field observations from the study area, Lubrecht Experimental Forest, located 35 miles East of Missoula, MT, will be used to validate and improve the simulation modeling. This study will be the first to use computer simulation in both two and three dimensions to investigate the processes that control bedrock-soil transformation in the semi-arid alpine climate on the hillslope scale over millions of years. The simulation model developed in this study could be applied to any well-known geology and climate worldwide to help better understand the processes that control the bedrock-soil transformation in the mountainous areas. The ability of computer simulation allows us to predict processes that cannot be observed directly or in difficult-to-access areas, particularly in developing countries where monitoring sites are lacking. Because soil and water are predicted to become scarce resources in the future, the findings of this study will benefit a wide range of stakeholders.
How does rock turn into soil?
UC 332
In mountainous areas, maximum chemical reactions occur when rock is transformed into soil. When rainwater infiltrates the soil, the majority of the water flows down deep into the bedrock, and the remainder flows laterally through the soil. Water leaches nutrients from the soil and bedrock before flowing into streams. The interface between soil and bedrock influences not only stream quality but also water distribution between soil and bedrock. As the demand for soil and water grows, the processes that control the transformation of bedrock into soil in mountainous areas become increasingly important. The goal of this study is to better understand the processes that govern the transformation of bedrock into soil in mountainous areas. Hillslope steepness, atmospheric carbon dioxide, rainfall, climate, bedrock characteristics, and topography are all factors that influence the transformation of bedrock into soil. A computer simulation will be used to investigate the impact of each process using the program PFLOTRAN. The current computer capability allows a wide range of possible scenarios affecting the transformation of bedrock into soil over hundreds of thousands of years to be simulated. The field observations from the study area, Lubrecht Experimental Forest, located 35 miles East of Missoula, MT, will be used to validate and improve the simulation modeling. This study will be the first to use computer simulation in both two and three dimensions to investigate the processes that control bedrock-soil transformation in the semi-arid alpine climate on the hillslope scale over millions of years. The simulation model developed in this study could be applied to any well-known geology and climate worldwide to help better understand the processes that control the bedrock-soil transformation in the mountainous areas. The ability of computer simulation allows us to predict processes that cannot be observed directly or in difficult-to-access areas, particularly in developing countries where monitoring sites are lacking. Because soil and water are predicted to become scarce resources in the future, the findings of this study will benefit a wide range of stakeholders.