Glossary

“Edaphon” refers to all of the organisms living in the soil (soil beings/creatures).

A development plan defines the way land can be developed and the use of the areas to be kept free from development. It also contains regulations on the permissible construction methods, construction heights and construction lines as well as the course and width of traffic areas. Development plans are based on a zoning plan and

The top 20 to 30 centimetres of soil form the topsoil.

The granulation describes the classification of grains and particles according to their grain size. The grain sizes are divided into the following groups (from large to small): stones, gravel, sand, silt and clay. The science of determining, describing and interpreting the grain size is called granulometry.

Drains are specially designed drainage pipes that collect and drain groundwater or rainwater through slots or holes in the pipes. In this way, wet areas are made available for agricultural use or building.

Soil formation is very different depending on the location. As a result, soils do not have a uniform structure, but are divided into layers that are more or less parallel to the surface. These layers, which differ in their properties, are called “soil horizons”. In general, the rock layer is at the very bottom, the

Volatile organic compounds – VOCs for short – are organic substances with a low boiling point. They are found in many solvents, woods, paints and sealants.

“Land grabbing” is a term for the (often illegal) appropriation of land, mostly by governments or corporations.

Cradle-to-Grave describes the path taken by a substance from manufacture to disposal.

Biomass-based fuels (e.g., from grain, corn, sugar cane), which can be used for engines and are sometimes mixed with fossil fuels in Austria.

“Living construction” describes the process of “cementing” soil particles through the life processes of soil animals. Clay and humus particles are connected to each other. On the one hand, crumbs are formed with the help of mucus and excrement, on the other hand, tube systems are created that create favourable conditions for the air and

Physical influences such as wind, water, heat and cold, or chemical processes such as chalk leaching from limestone mountains cause cracks in the rock. When it rains on limestone, carbonic acid (H2CO3) is formed from H2O and CO2 and dissolves limescale. Soil organisms can also alter the soil chemically and roots can mechanically reshape the

With new plantings, the soil material is usually loosely stored around the roots and there is plenty of air in the soil material. In order to completely cover the fine roots with soil and to largely displace the air, the plant is watered sufficiently. This process is referred to as “slurrying in”.

In the context of landscape planning, the term “zoning” refers to the administrative act by which something is released for public use and subject to public law.

All atmospheric circulation systems are summarized under the term “planetary circulation” (also called general, planetary or global circulation). The weather dynamics in the earth’s atmosphere are determined by their interaction.