The condition of the soil surface, and what's growing on it, controls the fate of rainfall.

Deforestation, fire, and agriculture have tended to move landscapes towards bare and
compact soil, which encourages runoff and erosion. The result isincreaed fine dust
particles that nucleate haze but not rain.

The soil carbon sponge is porous, well-aggregated soil rich in plant roots, diverse life forms,
nutrient availability, air, and often holds lots of water. These landscapes multiply rainfall and cooling.

To shift a landscape towards a soil sponge, keep in mind the soil health principles:
integrate livestock, cover the soil, diversity, living roots as long as possible, minimize tillage.

Credit: soilcarboncoalition.org