Learning objectives

In this topic, you will explore soils as living records of environmental history. You will learn how to "read" soil profiles, how researchers extract intact sections of soils called monoliths, and discover the key factors and processes that shape soils around the world.

After completing this topic, you will be able to…

• Describe how soils vary around the world.
• Explain why soils vary using the five soil-forming factors.
• Recognize key visible features in soil profiles.