Rock to regolith conversion: Producing hospitable substrates for terrestrial ecosystems

[摘要] Weatheringprocesses transform hard fresh rock into friable weathered rock, which is thenphysically disrupted to become soil. These regolith materials mantle theland masses and support terrestrial life but their formation involves some ofthe least understood of Earth?s surficial processes. The conversion ofbiologically inert hard rock to a hospitable substrate for organisms beginswith the production of porosity by weathering. Porosity allows water to flowthrough weathered rock, but it also imparts a water-holding capacity so thatwater can be stored for prolonged use by organisms. Organisms themselves, inthe form of microbes and plant roots, invade the rock as porosity forms.Production of porosity is the fundamental processresponsible for converting rock into a medium capable of supporting terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently,the rate of porosity formation during rock weathering is the ultimatemeasure of the production and sustainability of ecosystem-functionalsubstrates.

[学科分类] 地质学

[关键词] Fire safety;fatal fires;smoke alarms