Geology 210 - Class Preparation Questions

 Forest Soils of the NE US

Describe the soil profile of a typical spodosol.

What is a spodic horizon?   Discuss the processes that are responsible for generation of a spodic horizon.

How are aluminum and iron transported in spodosols?  Describe the relationship between mobility of Fe and Al species and soil pH.

How does the type of vegetation control the pH of surface soil horizons in NE US forests?

What is the general relationship between mineralogy of bedrock and surface material and soil acidification in NE forest soils? How does thickness of glacial/surficial sediment play a role?

What mechanisms in soil and watershed systems result in neutralization of anthropogenic sulfur and nitrogen acids?