1. They form in cold, wet climates
Found in areas of coniferous forest
Weathering is slow due to cold, wet climate
Humification is slow due to:
slow decomposure of needles
cold climate
few biota
A lot of Leaching/Podzolization because precipitation exceeds evaporation
Some Gleying due to iron pan.

2. What does it look like?
Podsol soils are shallow because weathering is slow.
There is a very thin layer of humus because there is little humification.
Humus is acidic because humification is slow.
Podsol soils have an ash-grey A horizon due to iron and aluminium leached by rain
An Iron pan forms where iron is redepositied between A and B horizon
Red-Brown B horizon because it is rich in aluminium and iron
Podsol soils are often waterlogged because the iron pan is impermeable.