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Weathering Profile

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

A weathering profile is a vertical assemblage of weathering zones (subsurface zones of alteration differing physically, chemically, or mineralogically from adjacent zones) from the surface soil to the unaltered bedrock. In the actual climate conditions of the Earth, the weathering profiles are best developed in the humid tropics, where depths of 30 up to 100 m are found. The nature of the weathering profile is a complex response to climatic and geologic controls and to long-term changes in surface environmental conditions. Astrobiologists study paleo-weathering profiles (or paleosols) because their mineralogical and geochemical characteristics can give constraints on the climatic, redox, and geological conditions of the surface of the early Earth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEOTOP Research Center for Geochemistry and Geodynamics, Université du Québec à Montréal, succ. Centre-Ville, CP 8888, H3C 3P8, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Daniele L. Pinti

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  1. Daniele L. Pinti
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Correspondence to Daniele L. Pinti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Pinti, D.L. (2014). Weathering Profile. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1865-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1865-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Weathering Profile
    Published:
    26 November 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1865-4

  2. Original

    Weathering Profile
    Published:
    28 April 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1865-3

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