Critical Zone Observatories
The four SoilTrEC CZOs located in the European Union represent key stages in the life cycle of soils; from soil formation, through productive use, to severe degradation of soils. Understanding evolution of soil processes through this life cycle is a new aspect of soils research that the international community is currently not addressing.
The four SoilTrEC CZOs will be integrated with three CZOs in the USA that are funded through the USA National Science Foundation. Five additional satellite sites, all with established funding for soils process research and longstanding data sets and site infrastructure, will also be integrated into this network of Critical Zone Observatories. These include European sites at Plynlimon (UK), Kindla (Sweden) and Strengbach (France).
The Red Soils site (SE China) will be integrated into this global network as the first study site on sandstone lithology and in Asia, and the Clear Creek (USA) site will be used for model validation and comparison of arable land use on soil processes. The overarching hypothesis is that climate, parent lithology, degree of soil disturbance and land management practice are key factors determining soil functions.
This global network allows the design of gradient experiments where soil processes and functions are quantified by comparing; e.g. similar lithology at different climate conditions or degree of soil disturbance.