The Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region

Transcription

1 Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September The Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region Luca Montanarella European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability Land Management and Natural Hazards Unit

2 Editorial Board of the Atlas Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September Arwyn Jones, Soil Action, JRC (Lead Editor) Luca Montanarella, Soil Action Leader, JRC Vladimir Stolbovoy, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences Prof. Gabriele Broll, University of Osnabrück (D) Charles Tarnocai, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Otto Spaargaren, ISRIC World Soils Data (NL) Prof. Chien-Lu Ping, University of Alaska Fairbanks (USA) Over 24 scientists contributed significant articles to the atlas with a further 50 providing additional graphical materials and photographs. Baffin Island Gabrielle Broll

3 Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September The International Polar Year (IPY) is a global scientific programme that focuses on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March The 4 th International Polar Year is led by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Importantly, the IPY aims to educate the public whilst training the next generation of polar engineers and scientists. Therefore, over 50 projects deal with education and outreach. Within this goal, EU initiative to produce a Atlas of Northern Circumpolar Soil. The Atlas strengthens the theme of soil within IPY Registered as Activity 1210 under IPY Expression of Intent and attached to the IPY Collaborative Science dpa Programme 373 on Carbon Pools in Permafrost Regions (CAPP). Greenland shoreline Christian Morel

4 Why soils? Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September The importance of soil and the multitude of environmental services that depend on soil properties are not widely understood by society at large. 2 Soil scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the necessity to raise awareness and educate the general public, policy makers and other scientists of the importance and global significance of soil. 3 This is particularly true of soil in northern latitudes where the impacts of global climate change would be dramatic on both a local and global perspective. Canadian Peatlands Government of Northwest Territories

5 What is the aim of atlas? Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September Publication to raise awareness of the significance of soils in the Northern Circumpolar Region (> 50 o North). Supporting the EU Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection and related initiatives. To educate and inform. Send a message from soil scientists to policy makers on the global importance of soils in northern latitudes. Baffin Island Gabrielle Broll

6 Audience and Targets Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September High quality reference work on the soils of the northern circumpolar region for the general public Informative, easy to read, graphically stimulating Lead to better understanding and appreciation of the role of soils in our lives Life in northern soils! Charles Tarnocai

7 The Atlas The Atlas A3 book of 144 pages (Portrait) Opens to A2 spreads (Landscape) 7

8 Inviting layout Conference Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity Where do we stand? Brussels, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September

9 Visually Stimulating Visually Stimulating Photos: Tarnocai, USGS, Micheli, Russel 9

10 Explain cold soils in a clear manner Explain cold soils in a clear manner 10

11 Deliver message through graphics Deliver message through graphics 11

12 An Atlas Needs Maps! Nearly 200 A4 pages of text Heart of the atlas based on digital soil datasets: Northern and Mid-Latitude Soil Database (Cryosol WG) Soil Geographical Database of Eurasia (ESBN/JRC) Digital Soil Map of the World (FAO) Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database 2007 (Tarnocai) Dominant Soil Type assigned to each polygon. Novel conversion of soil nomenclature to international classification/correlation scheme (WRB 2006) Different classification systems, different standards, different databases 12

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14 29 Regional Soil Maps 29 Regional Soil Maps 14

15 Link between texts and maps Link between texts and maps 15

16 Northern soils in a global context Northern soils in a global context 16

17 Northernsoil soilininaalocal localcontext context Northern Northern soil in a global context 17

18 Conclusions The atlas: raises public awareness of the importance, fragility and beauty of soil in the northern circumpolar region. illustrates the enormous variety and complexity of permafrostaffected and seasonally-frozen soils in the northern circumpolar region (accounting for approximately 15% of the global soil cover). describes the sensitivity of soil to the effects of climate change and human activities. makes the case for a sustainable approach to land management to ensure a minimal level of soil degradation. calls for continued research to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between permafrost-affected soils and climate change. 18

19 How can you obtain a copy? How can you obtain a copy? Purchase via Office of Official Publications Luxembourg Limited copies via the JRC arwyn.jones@jrc.ec.europa.eu Today! 19

20 JRC Editorial Plan for the Soil Atlas Series: The way forward! 2005 Soil Atlas of Europe 2010 Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region 2010 Atlas of Soil Biodiversity 2011 Soil Atlas of Africa 2013 Soil Atlas of Latin America In discussion: Soil Atlas of Antarctica Soil Atlas of North America Soil Atlas of Asia 20

21 Thank you for your attention. 21