Working Group on modelling of soil and landscape evolution
Who
This WG aims to progress quantitative soil and landscape evolution modelling by bringing together people modelling at (2D- or 3D-)landscape scales and people modelling (1D-) pedons. According to a survey, landscape modellers need more detailed and mechanistic process descriptions while pedon-scale modellers need the incorporation of matter fluxes (3-D) at the landscape scale in their models. We perceive that the cooperation of scientists active in landscape- and pedon scale modelling, paleopedology and pedometrics will be needed to bridge this gap.
What
The Working Group aims at establishing a platform where soil and landscape modellers can meet physically and virtually. Physical meetings are organized in the form of symposia in larger conferences such as EGU, AGU, Eurosoil, Pedometrics, etc. and in the form of workshops containing model demonstrations. A website (http://soillandscape.org) and an annual newsletter are established to stimulate interactions. To identify main development issues in soilscape modelling a review paper has been written and discussion sessions are planned in workshops.
The ambition is to have, at the end of the 4-year period of the working group, a community interacting on the topic of soilscape modelling that is producing, testing and evaluating models.
When & Where
Activities in 2015:
• Launch of http://soillandscape.org
• A first edition of the annual newsletter (early march 2015)
• Co-organisation of a workshop at EGU (12-17/4/2015: Linking evolution of landscapes, soils and biogeochemical cycles through models, novel approaches and soil records
• Organization of a 1-day workshop (14/9/2015) during Pedometrics 2015 (Cordoba, Spain, 14-18/9/2015)
Soil message (something completely different)
Interact with soils and ask yourself: What crop would grow in the soils of your backyard and how long could your backyard sustain your family?