Question

What is the porosity and permeability of Antarctic soil?

Answer 1

Porosity--the ability of water to move through the soil

Permeability--the abiity of roots to reach into the soil

Where water goes, roots can follow.

If water cannot penetrate the soil, roots won't either.

Answer 2

Porosity is the relationship between the volume of hollow spaces in a rock and its total volume. These spaces may be filled with gas, water or oil. ... Permeability is a measure of the fluid's ability to circulate through a rock without changing its internal structure.

Although the Antarctic region has high porosity, the permeability is low resulting in a high concentration of water and oil and low soil fertility.