Glossary

Biome terrestre; Terrestrial biome

A set of ecosystems with significant similarities in terms of climate and species (e.g. boreal forests, temperate forests, tropical forests, deserts, tundra, temperate grasslands/shrublands, cultivated areas, cities).

Soil horizon; Horizon pédologique

A volume of soil considered sufficiently homogeneous, more or less parallel to the ground surface. To the naked eye, horizons differ from one another in color, texture, abundance of coarse elements, spatial arrangement of constituents and associated voids.

Soil profile; Profil de sol

Vertical cross-section of a soil showing the thickness and succession of the different soil horizons, over a thickness of soil from the surface to the underlying bedrock.

Ecosystem...