564

Site number:

564

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1988/01/26

Reason Sampled:

Soil biological examination

Description:

100m northwest of Scott Base; an uneven sloping site alongside a fuel pipeline

Altitude:

30 m

Aspect:

SE

Slope:

5 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

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 with a thin till cover; the drift mantle is patchy

Patterned ground:

Weakly developed broad nets

Surface weathering or surface features:

Some overturned cobbles and boulders with carbonate coatings

Soil

Soil parent material:

Locally derived scoria drift with accessions of sedimentary and crystalline rocks from the mainland

Previous disturbance:

Extensive treading and landscape disturbance from base site activity; fuel pipeline nearby; possibly fuel contaminated

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous; a moist environment with summer thaw

Biological activity:

Some scattered moss