548

Site number:

548

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1988/01/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil Weathering examination

Description:

Walcott Bay, at the eastern edge of the Walcott Glacier; approximately 200m from the southern margin of Walcott Glacier and 4km from the Koetlitz Glacier; a low lying depression forming a salty hollow; the sample site is near the centre of the depression where salts are precipitated

Altitude:

400 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-20 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Frozen comment:

Geology

Geological setting:

The Walcott Bay area has a complex geology with basement rocks, small volcanic cones and an extensive drift mantle which include a wide range of rocks; the area was previously covered by the Koetlitz Glacier which has retreated; lower altitude surfaces are late Ross Glaciation in age

Patterned ground:

Nil at site

Surface weathering or surface features:

A salty crust covers the centre of the floor of the depression; surface clasts are unoxidised

Soil

Soil parent material:

Mixed gravelly drift from scoria; granite, dolerite and sandstone

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Moist; soil is moist to the surface and wet below; water at 22 cm; a snow patch partly covers the floor of the hollow

Biological activity:

Nil observed