21

Site number:

21

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/03

Reason Sampled:

Biological sample

Description:

On a moist, gently sloping and north facing surface with a thin cover of volcanic detritus over underlying volcanic rock

Altitude:

150 m

Aspect:

N

Slope:

10 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-15 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 NoObs

Frozen type:

NoObs

Frozen comment:

NoObs

Geology

Geological setting:

Black and red scoriaceous basalt and brown tuffites of the McMurdo Volcanic Group outcrop extensively;

Patterned ground:

Small nets

Surface weathering or surface features:

Soil

Soil parent material:

Scoriaceous basalt drift

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous, soil moisture derived from occasional snowfalls and melt from snowbanks

Biological activity:

Lichen and moss patches are extensive in pockets