300m west of Bratin Island on dirty ice; on sea ice with marine sponges and salt crust
Altitude:
2 m
Aspect:
Nil
Slope:
0 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
78° 0.7' S 165° 27' E
78° 5.5' S 165° 27' E
Latitude Longitude DD
-78.0117 165.450
-78.092 165.450
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.0008 0.008
0.004 0.008
Locality
Bratina Island, southern McMurdo Sound
Survey
Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Coastal Antarctic
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-18
°C
Frozen ground depth:
0 cm
Frozen type:
Frozen comment:
Geology
Geological setting:
The dirty ice is an extensive thermokarst area formed through freezing of anchor ice to the sea floor; ablation of the ice brings the sediment to the surface where it is reworked by thawing processes
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Surface salts in places
Soil
Soil parent material:
Marine sediment
Previous disturbance:
Nil
Soil weathering stage:
6
Soil moisture status:
Oceanic subxerous; a moist environment with considerable summer thaw and saline conditions