Tasks

Read the background essay about soils around the world. Then, work through this interactive that will allow you to learn more about soils from varying climates all over the world. The classifications used are from the American classification system. Answer the discussion questions below. (Open interactive in a new window.)

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 Downloaded from Teachers' Domain, http://www.teachersdomain.org. ©2006 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. Images courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Survey Division, World Soil Resources, Washington, D.C. See full attribution.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are some key factors that influence the composition of soils around the world?

  2. From studying these images, can you infer some of the processes that have formed particular soil profiles?

  3. What are some of the characteristics of soils in the United States and how do these relate to the kinds of vegetation occurring on them?

  4. Why is it important to know the soil structure of a particular area? Give several reasons.

  5. What types of soil are in your area?

Submit your work in a single Word file to the 2.04 World Soils Dropbox.

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