The Batsheva de Rothschild Seminar on Atmospheric Dust, Dust Deposits (Loess) and Soils in Deserts and Desert Fringe: The Sahara-Sinai-Negev as an Analogue for the Global Arid Regions; Jerusalem and the Negev Desert, 14–19 October 2015
soils
Permafrost Area Is Sensitive to Key Soil and Snow Physics
Accounting for key soil and snow variables shows a much higher impact on simulated permafrost area than uncertainties in land cover and climate data.
Soil Loses Pyrogenic Carbon by an Unexpected Pathway
Fresh insight into pyrogenic carbon disappearance suggests that erosion is not responsible.
Soil Crusts Play a Dual Role in Desertification
Rain falling on bare soil can form a hard crust that prevents further infiltration. But do these crusts worsen land degradation or help to prevent it?
Details of Gas Flow in Wetland Plant Roots Unearthed
Scientists track the flow of trace gases through wetland root systems to understand the role of plants in biogenic gas fluxes.
Conservation Farming Shown to Protect Carbon in Soil
A closer look at cultivated land informs actions to protect the vitality of our soil.
Satellites Track Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Monitor Drought
New satellite observations show connection between solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence and soil moisture—a key mechanism behind drought onset.
Soil Texture Determines How Groundwater and Rain Impact Crops
Scientists model water table depth, soil texture, and weather conditions to identify how these variables interact to make or break corn yields.
Assessing U.S. Fire Risks Using Soil Moisture Satellite Data
NASA satellite data and models provide information for mapping fire risks nationwide, giving agencies tools for fire response, say scientists at the AGU Fall Meeting.
Water Beneath the Surface of Mars, Bound Up in Sulfates
Researchers present maps of hydrogen and sulfur that hint at water locked in hydrous sulfates in Mars's southern hemispheric soil.
