Topsoil and snow: a continuum system

Abstract Snow cover plays a fundamental role in terrestrial ecosystems, because it influences the Earth's climate, water quantity and quality, global biogeochemical cycles and soil properties. In particular, snow helps to create and maintain a specific pedo-environment through its influence on pedogenesis and topsoil characteristics, such as the thermal and water regimes and soil biogeochemistry. Importantly, seasonally snow covered regions are particularly susceptible to climate change, which could alter the timing and the quality of snow cover, with consequences on ecosystems and pedo-environments.