Changes in Soil Properties and Morphology Across Environmental Gradients in the Oregon Cascades.

Soils of the Western Cascades are crucial for maintaining timber production, water storage, and wildlife diversity.  Andic soil properties in The Sierra Nevada Mountain range has been shown to be dependent on climate.  The goal of this study is to quantify changes in soil morphology, mineral weathering, and andic soil properties across both an environmental gradient (E-W) and a climatic gradient (N-S).  We hypothesis that mineral weathering will be greatest where the maximum amount of precipitation occurs as rain, below the permanent snow line.  We also hypothesis that above the snowline, andic soil properties will be most strongly expressed.  Strong relationships with climate may force shifts in the distribution of andic soil properties caused by changes in climate and snow pack.