The colluvium and alluvium problem: Historical review and current state of definitions

Miller, B.A. and J. Juilleret. The colluvium and alluvium problem: Historical review and current state of definitions. Earth-Science Reviews 209: 103316. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103316.

Comparing Uganda’s indigenous soil classification system with World Reference Base and Soil Taxonomy

Kyebogola, S., C.L. Burras, B.A. Miller, O. Semalulu, R.S. Yost, M.M. Tenywa, A.W. Lenssen, P. Kyomuhendo, C. Smith, C.K. Luswata, M.J. Gilbert Majaliwa, L. Goettsch, C.J. Pierce Colfer, R.E. Mazur. Comparing Uganda’s indigenous soil classification system with World Reference Base and Soil Taxonomy. Geoderma Regional. doi: 10.1016/j.geodrs.2020.e00296.

Geomorphometric segmentation of complex slope elements to improve soil mapping in southeast Brazil

Marques, K., J.A. Demattê, B.A. Miller, and I. Lepsch. Geomorphometric segmentation of complex slope elements to improve soil mapping in southeast Brazil. Geoderma Regional 14: e00175. doi: 10.1016/j.geodrs.2018.e00175.

Physiographic Regions of Iowa (Shapefile)

The state of Iowa contains diverse landscapes, each with subtle but impactful differences in their physical characteristics. This data set builds on the previously established landform regions of Iowa (Prior, 2000). All boundaries have been refined based on spatial data sets that become available since Prior (2000). Most importantly, this data set introduces subregions that …Continue reading “Physiographic Regions of Iowa (Shapefile)”

William Smith’s 1815 Delineation of the Strata of England and Wales with Part of Scotland: …Varieties of Soil According to the Variations in the Substrata (2018 EGU General Assembly)

The map produced by William Smith in 1815 is recognized as the first geological map of Britain, but it also represents a benchmark in cartography for the Earth sciences. Following the agrogeology concepts of the time, the title claims that by mapping the geologic strata, the varieties of soil are also shown. The new opportunity to leverage the proper map scaling in topographic maps as a locational reference to map other Earth science attributes set the stage for other revolutions.

A new depositional model for sand-rich loess on the Buckley Flats outwash plain, northwestern Lower Michigan

This landscape was originally interpreted as loess mixed with underlying sands. This paper re-evaluates this landscape through a spatial analysis of data from auger samples and soil pits. To better estimate the loamy sediment’s initial textures, we utilized “filtered” laser diffraction data, which remove much of the coarser sand data. Our new model for the origin of the loamy mantle suggests that the sands on the uplands were generated from eroding gullies and saltated onto the uplands along with loess that fell more widely.

Selected highlights in American soil science history from the 1980s to the mid-2010s

Despite the soil science discipline in the USA hitting hard times in the 1980s and 1990s, there were still many positive advances within soil science in the USA during these two decades. There was an increased use of geophysical instrumentation, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning systems (GPS), and research began in digital soil mapping, all of which lead to better understanding of the spatial distribution and variability of soils. Digital soil mapping is being incorporated into the National Cooperative Soil Survey, and the impact of humans on the soil system is being fully recognized. The expansion of soils into new areas and widening recognition of the importance of soils gives the field hope for a bright future in the USA.

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