As winter rainfalls may occur more frequently with climate warming, it is crucial to understand the effects of floods under an ice cover as they might play a major role in modifying sediment transport and thus sediment budgets. Additional research also focuses on fluvial processes in periglacial environments, paleohydrology and fish habitat restoration. The interplay of several soil-forming factors can result in complex soils that are difficult to interpret. The long-held adage that the properties of soils in the Rocky Mountain region, particularly those developed in glacial deposits, are primarily a function of the age of the parent material is only true if the variability in the influence of the other major environmental factors such as climate, soil biota, parent material, and topographic position can be determined. Just knowing the characteristics of soils in the Rocky Mountain region will not necessarily permit determining the age of the parent material.
Soils change as soil forming factors become more or less influential.
In particular, climate change has a major influence on soils through the formation of permafrost, episodes of alternating stability and erosion, and a variable influx of wind-blown materials. Transitions from glacial to interglacial conditions probably occurred quickly over decades to a few centuries, and soils were affected immediately. This phenomenon has serious consequences for the initiation of the next glacial part of the climate cycle because soils will become more altered and less productive as the climate becomes colder. In a few decades of a glacial cycle, soils may well become so unproductive that farming and ranching will have to be discontinued, resulting in serious economic impact on the whole Rocky Mountain region. Based on over 20 years of experience investigating glacial geology and soils, Dr. Robert D. Hall has recently focused his attention on these important applications of his research.