How does climate affect soil formation?

Climate is one of the five soil forming factors and has a significant influence on the properties of soil. Soils in warmer or wetter climates are more developed than soils in cooler or drier climates. Warm conditions promote the chemical and biological reactions that develop parent material into soil.

Climatic Factors in Soil Formation

Have you ever wondered why deserts have dry soil while forests have rich soil? Climate is a direct influence on things such as soil moisture and temperature. Climate is important because it influences plants, which can transform soil. If temperatures are extremely high, all the water evaporates away.

Of interest, climate is one of the five soil forming factors and has a significant influence on the properties of soil. Soils in warmer or wetter climate are more developed than soils in cooler or drier climate. Warm conditions promote the chemical and biological reactions that develop parent material into soil.