The modeling of water flow and solute transport in the vadose zone requires a profound knowledge of the governing physical processes across scales. In a first part different approaches and tools to characterize properties at various scales will be presented. The second part will focus on the implementation of structural properties in the modeling of physical processes.

The course provides theoretical and practical foundations for understanding and characterizing physical soil properties and processes and their relevance for terrestrial ecosystems, plant growth, hydrological processes and atmospheric-land gas exchange, across all relevant scales.

During three full-day field trips and two half-day field exercises, various aspects of soil morphology, soil genesis, and soil functioning are discussed using practical examples.

Students present seminars on selected topics in terrestrial systems sciences (e.g., soil sciences, plant ecology). The scientific content of the seminars will then be discussed by the students. At the end the quality of presentation will also be critically evaluated and discussed.

Soil organisms play a key role on the functioning of natural soil ecosystems. This course provides a detailed overview of the diversity and functions of the soil organisms and focuses on above-belowground relationships, global change impacts on the soil functioning and diversity and methodological ways to assess and mitigate them.

The pedological excursions are field trips to personally inspect the major soil types in our region. The various soil horizons can be seen and assessed in excavated soil pits. The purpose of this excercise is to recognize the important features of these soils and to understand the ecosystem processes at these sites. This unit complements the teaching materials and contents of the courses taught in

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