Английский для специалистов по защите окружающей среды и безопасности жизнедеятельности. Ульянова О.В. - 58 стр.

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25. Read the text and find out how climatic changes influence the fol-

lowing factors of soil behavior:

• carbon content;

• water capacity;

• soil nutrients.

26. Complete the chart.

Warmer Drier

conditions conditions

increased

carbon loss

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOIL HEALTH

A study produced by the Natural Environment Research Council

(NERC) indicates that warmer, drier conditions will negatively impact the

cycling of carbon, water and nutrients in the soil of shruland ecosystems, es-

pecially in northern Europe.

The effects of climate change on soil health have not been fully investi-

gated, yet soil is an integral part of all ecosystems. In the context of the Vul-

can project, warmer nighttime temperatures and reduced rainfall conditions

were simulated in six shrubland ecosystems spanning southern and northern

Europe. The goal was to anticipate changes in soil behaviour that can be ex-

pected over the next few decades as temperatures rise and the frequency of

droughts increases.

NERC, a participant in the Vulcan project, monitored the effects of the

modified weather on several key soil parameters. An alarming finding was

that hotter temperatures led to increased carbon loss from the soil layer via

respiration, constituting a positive feedback. On the other hand, in general,

reduced rainfall led to decreased carbon loss. The overall effect was positive

at the northern test sites in Denmark and Wales.

Drought conditions appeared to negatively affect soil water capacity

over the long run. NERC also examined changes in the rate of generation of

plant litter and its subsequent absorption into the organic soil reservoir. The