Critical zone
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The Critical Zone is a theoretical concept that connects the atmosphere, vegetation, soil, water, and nutrient availability for life systems. The concept was first published by the National Research Council in 2000, and their initial depiction of it describes it as the "heterogeneous, near surface environment in which complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms regulate the natural habitat and determine the availability of life-sustaining resources". [1]
References
[1] Council, National Research. Basic Research Opportunities in Earth Science. 2000. nap.nationalacademies.org, https://doi.org/10.17226/9981.