Diogo Spinola
Pedology and biogeochemistry
Hi! I am a physical geographer and soil scientist. My research focuses on the interplay of weathering, pedogenesis, and elemental cycles across terrestrial and aquatic environments. I seek to understand the role of soil processes in biogeochemical cycles, spanning from the microscopic to landscape scale.
Current research
Soil biogeochemistry in coastal temperate rainforest in southeast Alaska.
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Recent projects
Soils and paleosols from Antarctica. Beyond ice and penguins!
Miscellaneous
(Under construction)
Landscapes and features from around the world.
News!!!
October 2024
Our publication on a Little Ice Age soil chronosequence is now available in Catena!
In this study, we explored how soils and carbon evolve in the coastal rainforests of southeast Alaska—a region shaped by rapid glacier retreat and accelerated soil formation. We focused on early pedogenesis (70 to 250yr) and carbon sequestration through organic carbon buildup. Findings reveal rapid soil formation and organic carbon accumulation in mineral soils. Next, we aim to investigate the magnitude of silicate weathering and petrogenic carbon release to constrain carbon sinks and sources.
July 2024
Our publications on Alaskan forest soils are now online in the Soil Science Society of America Journal!
In these studies, we explored the potential influence of lithology on soil erosion rates and soil organic carbon stocks.
In the paper led by Dr. Raquel Portes, we demonstrated that erosion rates in the region are negligible and that lithology does not play a significant role. Similarly, in the paper led by Jennifer Fedenko, we found no significant differences in carbon stocks. These findings emphasize how a perhumid climate, combined with a dense rainforest, outweighs the potential influence of different lithologies.
January 2024
!!Now online!! Exciting publication on Eocene paleosols led by Dr. Adrian Broz from University of Oregon and Purdue University. It presents geochemical, mineralogical, and micromorphological evidence of tropical conditions in southern California, which led to the formation of paleo-Ultisols and Vertisols.
I was delighted to deliver an invited talk at the Goldschmidt 2023 Conference, in the section titled 'Advances in Climate Interpretation Using Soil and Paleosol Proxies.'
I brought together insights from a modern soil chronosequence and paleosol research to discuss the influence of soil formation intervals, climate, and diagenesis on paleoenvironmental interpretation. More specifically, I provided examples demonstrating how early stages of pedogenic processes can be crucial for interpreting past climates, particularly in poorly developed paleosols.
The key takeaways are:
- Early-stage pedogenic features can serve as indicators of the direction of soil-forming processes
- Comparisons with soil chronosequences can be used as potential modern analogues.
- There is a need to distinguish between pedogenic and diagenetic features.
You can find the abstract for my presentation at the following link: https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2023/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/17098
July 2023
We had a shorter yet very productive field season this year. Our research group expanded the sampling sites for assessing erosion rates using 239+240Pu isotopes, with the objective being to assess erosion rates in other portions of the landscape to improve our understanding of the interplay between soil development and erosion in a coastal temperate rainforest.
We also had a great time partnering with the Juneau Icefield and the University of Maine, introducing first-generation students to the connections among soil science, global warming, and glacier retreat.
March 2023
!!Now online!! In this publication, we investigated relict soil features preserved in cave deposits spanning from 100 kyr to 8 kyr in a semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. These deposits contain soil features that indicate periods of increased moisture and weathering, associated with global-scale events, such as Heinrich Stadials and Younger Dryas periods. Sediment geochemistry, mineralogy, and micromorphological were key in determining the dominant paleoenvironmental conditions outside the cave before deposition. A great paper led by Prof. Daniel Sousa (UNIVASF - Brazil). Check it out here!
