English II
Soil forming factors that determine the morpho- logical, physical, and chemical characteristics of soils consecutively appear on the land’s surface in a predictable pattern. For example, a decrease in temperature or an increase in precipitation by elevation results in changes in vegetation, which are in turn reflected in the characteristics of the soil. A group of soils associated with one area that occur in a predictable pattern is called a Soil Asso- ciation. Typical Korean topography shows floodplains on both sides of a river that are adjacent to the piedmonts, or foothills, of nearby gentle sloping mountains. These foothills are in turn connected to the rear, steep-sloped mountains. The flow of water from mountain to river erodes soil particles, leaches soil nutrients, and then deposits them on the lower part of a mountain. Rainfall in ltrating and percolating into the soil increases its water content. Floodplains experience flooding during periods of high discharge and display high ground water levels. As such, these soil-forming factors appear in a continuous manner, which leads nearby soil series to develop accordingly. This process is often called Soil Catena.
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