Description
Soils play crucial roles in Earth’s surface environments. For example, vascular plants require soil to recruit and sustain growth, as fine soil material serves to hold and store water, and weathering processes provide key bio nutrients. This two-part class addresses soil forming processes, the soil profile, how soil studies support research in areas of geologic research, and the application of the “CLORPT” conceptual framework developed by soil scientist, Hans Jenny.
Les McFadden is a professor emeritus in the UNM Earth & Planetary Sciences (E&PS) Department. He received an MS & PhD in geosciences from the University of Arizona and a BA in anthropology from Stanford. He served as chair of the E&PS Department (1999-2007) and is a fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA). In 2017 he received the Kirk Bryan Award for Excellence from the GSA.