Chemical weathering along gradients of soil age
Abstract
Chemical weathering of geologic materials leads to leaching of mobile elements, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals, and to the accumulation of less mobile elements like iron and aluminum in soils. The long-term rates at which these processes operate can be estimated with so-called chronosequences, studying soils of varying age that have formed under otherwise similar environmental conditions. In this project, two contrasting soil chronosequences are studied, one covering approx. 40 years of soil formation on recovering landslide scars in southern Taiwan and one covering approx. 1 million years on volcanic deposits on the Galapagos Islands. In both cases, the geochemical composition of the soils is analyzed. Elemental gains and losses throughout the soil profiles are assessed using the Brimhall model, and different indices of chemical weathering (using major element concentrations as well as iron oxide formation and crystallinity) are calculated. Weathering rates are estimated using the space-for-time substitution inherent to the employed chronosequence approach.
Schlagworte Galapagos volcanic soils geochemistry weathering Taiwan
Publikationen
Mitarbeiter*innen
Franz Zehetner
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Franz Zehetner
franz.zehetner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91118
BOKU Project Leader
01.03.2018 - 30.09.2020
Martin Gerzabek
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. Martin Gerzabek
martin.gerzabek@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91112
Project Staff
01.03.2018 - 30.09.2020
BOKU Partner
Externe Partner
Galapagos national park
keiner
partner
National Taiwan Normal University
keiner
partner
National Taiwan University
keiner
partner