How many soil animals live in one square centimeter of soil? Do you know?
It's a huge challenge to present something clearly and simply, especially something you can't see. This film succeeds in explaining complex relationships within the soil in a simple way. I find that very helpful for those who are studying it, and also because it unlocks a world that we often don't even notice. We walk on it, we stand on it, we sleep on it, and yet we know so little about the life that unfolds and unfolds beneath our feet.
This film is a wonderful contribution to making this life beneath our feet more understandable and accessible. Therefore, I find it marvelous and am grateful that there are people equipped with these skills to show such things and make this connection.
Experience the ground - FILM
The film shows in many ways just how fascinating our soil is:
From fantastic insights into the multifaceted and fascinating world of soil life to the importance of soil for the environment and humankind, this film clearly demonstrates why it is so crucial to pay more attention to our soil. It is one of the most important foundations for life on our planet! Countless soil organisms live on and in a single square meter of soil, both large and small. These include hundreds of earthworms and woodlice, thousands of tiny mites and springtails, as well as millions of single-celled organisms and billions of algae, bacteria, and fungi. Microscopic images offer a glimpse into the mysterious world of microorganisms: from the amphipod, which constantly changes its shape, to the proboscis with its venomous proboscis, to the tardigrade, which can survive extreme environmental conditions for extended periods in a death-like state.
All these organisms not only live in the soil but also contribute to its formation. The soil's layered structure reveals how it came to be. At the bottom is the solid bedrock, followed by the weathered layer of broken-up rock, and finally, at the top, the humus layer teeming with life. This process is a long one. Approximately ten centimeters of soil are formed every thousand years. Soil cannot be increased; its surface area is and always will be limited. That's why soil conservation is so important. We need it because we live primarily from what grows in the soil, whether directly as food or indirectly as feed for our livestock. Undisturbed soil is crucial, also for our water cycle. Precipitation hits the earth, seeps into the ground, or is stored there until it passes through the soil layers into the groundwater or flows into rivers and other bodies of water. A single square meter of soil can absorb up to 250 liters of water—enough to fill a very large bathtub. Heavy rainfall is retained in the soil and therefore doesn't cause flooding as quickly. The soil is also absolutely essential for the quality of our water. It cleans rainwater and meltwater. The soil's ability to absorb moisture is also crucial for our climate. Through evaporation, the soil helps regulate temperatures in hot weather. By storing heat, it mitigates cold temperatures. Because soil formation takes so long and soil is a finite resource, protecting it is essential. Our human perspective remains superficial until we penetrate the thin skin of our planet: the soil.
Copyright: State of Upper Austria. More information on soil and soil protection.
For the purpose of raising awareness or providing information (e.g., in schools), the film may be shown in whole or in part free of charge, provided the State of Upper Austria is credited as the copyright holder. For use of the film material on television or in public screenings, please contact us. We can provide the film in HD or 4K quality upon request and are happy to support you with further information and materials (Office of the Upper Austrian Provincial Government, Directorate of Environment and Water Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Kärntnerstraße 10-12, 4021 Linz; us.post@ooe.gv.at; Tel.: +43 732 7720 13623)
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