 | 6 JSS (1) 2006 | | The Front Cover reflects the new structure of JSS in three areas: Soils, Sediments and Intercompartment. ---
Editors-in-Chief: Soils: Zhihong Xu, Australia - Sediments: Ulrich Förstner, Germany - Intercompartment: Wim Salomons, The Netherlands (wim.salomons@home.nl) - - -
THE INTERCOMPARTMENTAL JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS: New Research Approaches of Bringing Soils and Sediments Together - - -
SOILS as the interface of the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere with their multiple functions represent one of the most challenging topics for environmental research. JSS wants to assist in providing an understanding of the soil as a natural biogeochemical reactor and hopes to contribute to a better comprehension of this exciting topic. - - - -
SEDIMENTS are archives which provide a documentation for natural and anthropogenic contamination. JSS reflects the modern sediment research dealing with the identification and dissemination of pollutants, the appraisal of transitional phases, the transfer mechanisms to organisms as well as the selection and development of remedial measures. - - - -
SOILS + SEDIMENTS: JSS develops approaches of bringing Soils and Sediments together. The functions of soil do not differ greatly from the functions of sediment, with the proviso that sediments, unlike soils, are intrinsically linked with aquatic systems.
One of the ecological functions of soil is as a substrate for the production of biomass, ensuring food, fodder, renewable energy and raw materials - sediment plays the same role in aquatic systems.
Soils provide the physical basis for technical, industrial and socio-economic structures and their development, e.g. industry, housing, transport, sports, recreation and the dumping of refuse. Sediments provide a similar substrate for most structures and developments in aquatic systems.
A balanced soil and sediment supply is necessary to protect infrastructure, and, as sea levels rise and climate changes, our management of this cycle will be a primary line of defence. Soils and sediments are intensively interlinked, and thus soil and sediment scientists and managers should co-operate in order to solve the many existing problems which often exist at the interface of both media. - - - -
These new research approaches were also defined within the European Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection. |
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