This special issue investigates the fascinating interactions between the geosphere and biosphere that are active near the Earth’s surface and within the critical zone. The special issue focuses on modelling and observational studies conducted along the extreme climate and ecological gradient of the Chilean Coastal Cordillera. We welcome submissions that address the physical or chemical processes whereby micro-organisms, animals, and plants influence the shape and development of the Earth’s surface over timescales ranging from the present day to the distant geologic past. As this topic is highly interdisciplinary in scope, we encourage submissions from diverse disciplines including geology, geography, geochemistry, surface geophysics, ecology, microbiology, soil sciences, hydrogeology, geomorphology, and climatology. Integrative studies that bridge between disciplines are particularly welcome. Two types of manuscript submissions are possible. These include either original and/or new scientific full-length research articles presenting new data and interpretations or review and synthesis papers that are invited by the editors and integrate data from different studies and disciplines to address state-of-the-science questions related to Earth surface shaping by biota.

This special issue spans planetary geomorphology across the solar system, with a particular focus on comparative planetology and terrestrial analogue studies. This special issue is intended to be of interest for Earth and planetary science communities alike and aims to highlight the valuable insights to be gained from exploring geomorphic processes on multiple planetary bodies. The focus of individual papers in the special issue is flexible. As an example, a paper might focus on a given geomorphic theme (e.g. aeolian fluvial processes, volcanism, impact cratering, glaciation) and explore this topic on another planetary body or planetary bodies with comparisons to analogous processes on Earth (observed remotely, in the field, or in the laboratory). Another approach could be a comparative study of a geomorphic process between two or more planetary bodies other than Earth. Authors are encouraged to reach out to colleagues working on different planetary bodies to achieve this.

This special issue investigates the fascinating interactions between the geosphere and biosphere that are active near the Earth’s surface and within the critical zone. The special issue focuses on modelling and observational studies conducted along the extreme climate and ecological gradient of the Chilean Coastal Cordillera. We welcome submissions that address the physical or chemical processes whereby micro-organisms, animals, and plants influence the shape and development of the Earth’s surface over timescales ranging from the present day to the distant geologic past. As this topic is highly interdisciplinary in scope, we encourage submissions from diverse disciplines including geology, geography, geochemistry, surface geophysics, ecology, microbiology, soil sciences, hydrogeology, geomorphology, and climatology. Integrative studies that bridge between disciplines are particularly welcome. Two types of manuscript submissions are possible. These include either original and/or new scientific full-length research articles presenting new data and interpretations or review and synthesis papers that are invited by the editors and integrate data from different studies and disciplines to address state-of-the-science questions related to Earth surface shaping by biota.

This special issue spans planetary geomorphology across the solar system, with a particular focus on comparative planetology and terrestrial analogue studies. This special issue is intended to be of interest for Earth and planetary science communities alike and aims to highlight the valuable insights to be gained from exploring geomorphic processes on multiple planetary bodies. The focus of individual papers in the special issue is flexible. As an example, a paper might focus on a given geomorphic theme (e.g. aeolian fluvial processes, volcanism, impact cratering, glaciation) and explore this topic on another planetary body or planetary bodies with comparisons to analogous processes on Earth (observed remotely, in the field, or in the laboratory). Another approach could be a comparative study of a geomorphic process between two or more planetary bodies other than Earth. Authors are encouraged to reach out to colleagues working on different planetary bodies to achieve this.