Abstract:
According to the IPCC, global temperatures are expected to increase between 1.1
and 6.4 °C during the 21st century and precipitation patterns will be altered. Soils are
intricately linked to the atmospheric/climate system through the carbon, nitrogen, and
hydrologic cycles. Because of this, altered climate will have an effect on soil processes and
properties. Recent studies indicate at least some soils may become net sources of
atmospheric C, lowering soil organic matter levels. Soil erosion by wind and water is also
likely to increase. However, there are many things we need to know more about. How
climate change will affect the N cycle and, in turn, how that will affect C storage in soils is a
major research need, as is a better understanding of how erosion processes will be influenced
by changes in climate. The response of plants to elevated atmospheric CO2 given limitations
in nutrients like N and P, and how that will influence soil organic matter levels, is another
critical research need. How soil organic matter levels react to changes in the C and N cycles
will influence the ability of soils to support crop growth, which has significant ramifications
for food security. Therefore, further study of soil-climate interactions in a changing world is
critical to addressing future food security concerns.
