Ideas in this flowchart

• Soil development is shaped by landscape position and climate conditions.
• Landscape position influences soil development.
• Stable upper positions often experience substantial development because water moves through them while organic-rich surface material remains in place.
• Steep slopes lose soil through runoff and erosion.
• Low positions may receive new deposits from above or flooding.
• Climate conditions influence the rate of soil development.
• Warmer and wetter conditions generally accelerate soil development.
• Frozen conditions greatly slow water movement, biological activity, and chemical reactions.