Soil_carbon_sponge
Soil carbon sponge (or soil sponge)[1] is porous, well-aggregated soil[2] in good health, better able to absorb and retain water. Australian microbiologist and climatologist, Walter Jehne, articulated the concept of the soil carbon sponge in his 2017 paper, Regenerate Earth,[3] connecting soil carbon with a restored water cycle[4] able induce planetary cooling through evaporative cooling and higher reflectance of denser green vegetation.[1] Cooling from increased cloud formation is another benefit of soil regeneration anticipated by Jehne.[5]
A soil carbon sponge has densities much lighter (1 gram/cc) as compared to the parent mineral soil (2.6–3.5 grams/cc).[5]
Intensive farming practices that leave bare soils, cultivate extensively, apply water needy fertilizers and biocides and extensive irrigation have accelerated the oxidation of soil carbon as CO2. These oxidative practices reduce the depth and function of soil carbon sponges. Soil carbon sponges can be negatively affected by fire and flooding.[6]