521

Site number:

521

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1988/01/03

Reason Sampled:

Soil biological examination

Description:

Approximately 1.5km east of Castle Rock on a basaltic knoll; a rocky surface with scattered moss and lichen; a gently sloping uneven surface

Altitude:

225 m

Aspect:

S

Slope:

4 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic, Oceanic subxerous

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-18 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

Rocks of the area are McMurdo Volcanics, a series of flows of mainly scoria; tuffs occur at Castle Rock nearby; Last Glaciation ice resulted in small accessions of sedimentary and crystalline rocks from the mainland

Patterned ground:

Micro polygons

Surface weathering or surface features:

A bouldery unweathered and uneven surface; a few salt patches precipitated on some rocks

Soil

Soil parent material:

Bouldery black and some red scoria

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

A moist site with snow lying between surface rocks

Biological activity:

Moss and lichen species; more abundant on black scoria than on red scoria and less common on drier north faces