Understanding Alpine soils: from glaciers to rice paddies
Duration: five days. Departure and arrival both in Florence
Field trip goals: Observation of soils in the Alps and in the piedmont area, with diverse climates and land uses over short distances. Alpine forest soils from Podzols to Calcisols; Alpine tundra soils from Regosols to Cambisols and Umbrisols; Pleistocene glacio-fluvial terraces and rice fields in piedmont areas
Destination: Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte Regions (NW-Italy)
Soil-related topics: Geomorphology, botany, glaciology, hydrology
Other multidisciplinary topics: ecosystem services, paddy field management, climate change, LTER
Socio-cultural themes: Stop in Aosta city, important Roman town on the gallic road; Forte di Bard; Reggia di Venaria.