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Coupling between Biota and Earth Materials in the Critical Zone

¹ Division of Ecosystem Sciences, 137 Mulford Hall
University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
E-mail: earthy{at}nature.berkeley.edu
² Nicholas School, Division of Environmental Sciences and Policy
Duke University, A207B LSRC, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA
³ Department of Physical Geography, Macquarie University
NSW 2109, Australia. Deceased
⁴ Grupo de Estudios Ambientales-IMASL, Universidad Nacional
de San Luis & CONICET, Avenida Ejercito de los Andes 950
D5700HHW San Luis, Argentina
⁵ Laboratoire de Géochimie-Cosmochimie, Institut de Physique du
Globe de Paris, CNRS UMR 7579, Université Paris 7, 4 Place Jussieu
75252 Paris Cédex 05, France

The surface of our planet is the result of billions of years of feedback between biota and Earth materials. The chemical weathering of soils and the resulting stream and ocean chemistry bear the signature of the biological world. Physical shaping of the Earth's surface in many regions is a biologically mediated process. Given the pervasiveness of life, it is challenging to disentangle abiotic from biotic processes during field observations, yet it is of paramount importance to quantify these interactions and their feedbacks as the human impact on climate and ecosystems becomes more profound. Here we briefly review the fascinating connection between rocks and life and highlight its significance to science and society.

KEYWORDS: chemical weathering, erosion, soils, biosphere

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. L. Brantley, M. B. Goldhaber, and K. V. Ragnarsdottir Crossing Disciplines and Scales to Understand the Critical Zone Elements, October 1, 2007; 3(5): 307 - 314. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]