ESS Weathering, Erosion and Soil
How Does Soil Vary from Place to Place?
Name ________________ Period____
Supplement to: www.classzone.com ES1206
Target question: What makes up the “horizons” in a soil profile? What factors affect the formation of soil?
1. Complete the pie chart for the 4 materials that make up the TOPSOIL. Include the NAME of the material, the
PERCENT of each material and what it’s composed of.
R ______________ _____% composed of _______________________
A______________ _____% composed of _______________________
W_____________ _____% composed of _______________________
H_____________ ______% composed of _______________________
2. What is a soil profile?
3. Identify and describe as many layers (horizons) that you see in the soil profile
picture to the right.
4. List several similarities and differences between the (laminated) pictures of the
different state soil profiles.
5. Make a hypothesis about a possible relationship between average annual precipitation and TOPSOIL DEPTH.
6. Measure and record the TOPSOIL depth for each state. Research average annual precipitation for each state.
http://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_precipitation.htm
State
Massachusetts
Georgia
Montana
Arizona
Hawaii
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Topsoil depth (inches)
Ave. Annual Precipitation
(inches)
7. Plot the data points onto the graph. Draw a straight TREND line
Ave. annual precipitation (in.)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Topsoil depth (inches)
8. Using the graph, describe a pattern that exists between the average annual precipitation and the topsoil depth.
9. Illinois has good quality soil and deep topsoil despite a lower than average precipitation. Describe the soil in
Illinois in terms of each of the 5 soil control factors. (pages 93-95 and information from PPT)
1. Parent Material is….
2. Time:
3. Climate is….
4. Biosphere:
5. Slope/topography of the land:
10. Which locations (states) were NOT on the trend line? Select one and describe which soil control factors are
responsible?
Montana
Arizona
1 ft.
2 ft
3 ft.
4 ft
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Georgia
0(in)
10
20
30
40
Hawaii
Illinois