DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Vesicular soil horizons - the fragile skin of desert soils: Their distribution, formation processes, and relation to surface hydrology in the western U.S.A.

论文研究：水泡土壤层 - 沙漠土壤的脆弱表皮：它们的分布、形成过程以及与美国西部地表水文学的关系

• 批准号: 1110425
• 负责人: Robert Graham
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1110425&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Vesicular; soil; horizons

Soils found in dry parts of the Earth, including large areas of the western United States, that have a layer of distinctive bubble like pores at or near the soil surface, are called vesicular soils. These layers are relatively thin, usually less than 10 cm, but can act as a water repellent skin that determines whether water infiltrates, runs off, or evaporates from the soil surface. Plans for solar and wind power facilities in the deserts of the southwest have raised concern about increased soil disturbance in previously undeveloped lands. The formation of these soils is still a mystery. This project will evaluate the formation of vesicular layers in deserts, including their distribution, formation and relation to soil water movement. An index will be used to quantify the relative development of the layers. The study also considers new ways to explain the formation of vesicular pores, such as modeling their expansion using basic chemical principals relating the temperature and volume of gases. The study will include analyses of soil data bases, laboratory experiments and field studies. One new approach will be to use high resolution CAT scans to look inside soil samples and examine the size and shape of the pores without disrupting soil structure. Results will be presented at professional meetings and in high school classes. Results will also be used in a proposal for the formal recognition of vesicular soils. Management of arid lands is at a critical moment right now, with plans for extensive energy facilities under development and review. Since the vesicular layer is a fragile surface that is highly susceptible to erosion by wind and water when it is disturbed, adoption of this terminology will increase awareness and highlight management options for the arid west.

在地球的干燥地区，包括美国西部的大部分地区，土壤表面或附近有一层独特的气泡状孔隙，被称为泡状土壤。这些层相对较薄，通常小于10厘米，但可以作为防水皮肤，决定水是否从土壤表面渗透，流失或蒸发。在西南部沙漠地区建设太阳能和风能设施的计划引起了人们对以前未开发土地上土壤扰动增加的担忧。这些土壤的形成仍然是个谜。 该项目将评估沙漠中泡状层的形成，包括其分布、形成及其与土壤水分运动的关系。将使用一个指数来量化各层的相对发展。该研究还考虑了解释泡状孔形成的新方法，例如使用与气体温度和体积相关的基本化学原理对其膨胀进行建模。这项研究将包括土壤数据库分析、实验室试验和实地研究。 一种新的方法将是使用高分辨率CAT扫描来查看土壤样本内部，并检查孔隙的大小和形状，而不会破坏土壤结构。结果将在专业会议和高中课堂上公布。研究结果也将用于正式确认泡状土壤的建议中。干旱土地的管理目前正处于关键时刻，正在开发和审查广泛的能源设施计划。由于泡状层是一种脆弱的表面，在受到干扰时极易受到风和水的侵蚀，因此采用这一术语将提高人们的认识，并突出干旱西部的管理选择。