by Daniel Brouse
March 27, 2025
Global warming is driven by an increase in thermal energy within the Earth’s climate system. This system is made up of interconnected subsystems, including the atmosphere, oceans, and land. Chaos theory highlights the complexity and nonlinearity of these dynamic systems, and this complexity is particularly evident in the intricate interactions between soil, the atmosphere, and the oceans.
What makes soil so crucial to addressing the climate crisis is its unique role in these interactions — soil is alive. Unlike the atmosphere or oceans, which are primarily composed of inorganic matter and operate as passive systems, soil is a living, dynamic medium that supports a vast array of organisms, from microbes to plant roots. These organisms play a central role in processes like carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and water retention, all of which directly influence climate stability.
Soil’s importance lies in its ability to store carbon. Healthy soil acts as a carbon sink, capturing and holding carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, when soil becomes degraded or erodes, this carbon is released back into the atmosphere, amplifying the effects of global warming.
When soil “dies,” it undergoes a process known as desertification. Desertification is a critical state where once-fertile land becomes barren and incapable of supporting life, leading to the loss of its carbon sequestration capacity. This transformation not only reduces the soil’s ability to mitigate climate change but also accelerates it, as barren land is often more prone to erosion and less able to retain moisture.
In this way, soil acts as both a barometer and a buffer in the climate system. Its health and vitality are intrinsically linked to the Earth’s overall climate stability. Protecting and restoring soil is, therefore, not only about ensuring food security and biodiversity — it is about addressing one of the most pivotal elements of the climate crisis. Without healthy soil, efforts to mitigate climate change become far more challenging.
More Resources
Soil Degradation and Desertification
The Decline of Penn’s Sylvania: Trees and Temperate Zones
The Album ‘Wood You Save the Trees?’ by The Beatless Sense Mongers