It is the remains of what was once soil, or debris that never was soil to begin with. A kaleidoscope of ecosystems that frequently merge, often imperceptibly to the casual observer. Yet, although hydrographers sometimes speak of a World Ocean, no one would accept the term World Soil. For, although soils cover less of the Earth s surface than the sea, they are in a sense more diverse. Water is a recyclable liquid that circulates, ensuring a more or less equitable distribution of its contents.
Water also tends to be relatively uniform in temperature.
Soils, on the other hand, evolve. While the Missouri River water which originates in Montana may become Caribbean water and then North Atlantic water, soil remains faithful to the bedrock and climate that nurtured it. Far more than seawater, soils vary widely in texture and color, each characteristic hinting at its origin. Montana s soils bake in Summer s heat and nurture Spring s new growth through Winter s cold. They are in a sense more faithful than the migratory meadowlark or the hibernating grizzly.