A small dry valley area at the head of a lobe of ice extending into an embayment on the west side of Ackerman Ridge; a bouldery moraine surface on the floor of the valley
Altitude:
1700 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
86° 34.0' S 147° 58' W
86° 34' S 147° 58' W
Latitude Longitude DD
-86.567 -147.967
-86.567 -147.967
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.008 0.008
0.008 0.008
Locality
Scott Glacier region, southern Trans-antarctic Mountains on Ackerman Ridge
Survey
US Geological Survey 1:250 000, 1968, Mount Blackburn
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Inland Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-38
°C
Frozen ground depth:
90 cm
Frozen type:
Dry frozen over stagnant ice
Frozen comment:
90cm
Geology
Geological setting:
Valley head tills mark successive retreat stages of the Scott Glacier; being furthermost from the ice edge, this till is probably the oldest of the youngest set of moraines in this area
Patterned ground:
Weakly developed
Surface weathering or surface features:
Fresh angular to subrounded surface clasts with some slight surface staining in places
Patchcy snow cover but no liquid water observed; a weakly developed soil crust suggests there may be occasional soil moistening
Biological activity:
Nil Observed
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
218a
0
–
5
cm
light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy to silty pebble gravel; weakly cohesive; weakly developed vesicular structure; rock particles subangular to subrounded and unstained; distinct boundary;
218b
20
–
30
cm
light grey (2.5Y 7/2) bouldery sandy to silty gravel; loose; rock particles subrounded and unstained; sharp boundary, on stagnant ice