Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Civilization's Steadily Eroding Foundation

soil erosion grooves photo
Image credit: daveynin/Flickr
The thin layer of topsoil that covers the planet's land surface is the foundation of civilization. This soil, typically 6 inches or so deep, was formed over long stretches of geological time as new soil formation exceeded the natural rate of erosion. But sometime within the last century, as human and livestock populations expanded, soil erosion began to exceed new soil formation over large areas.

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