597

Site number:

597

Authors:

IBC, GGGC, MRB

Date recorded:

1990/02/02

Reason Sampled:

Soil moisture and permafrost investigations

Description:

Northwest of Scott Base, above the roadway and on the recently constructed pipeline track (December 1989); at the north end just before the bend where the pipeline turns then passes down hill; approximately 35m from a rock cutting

Altitude:

60 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-18 °C

Frozen ground depth:

95 > cm

Frozen type:

Dry frozen

Frozen comment:

>95cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Rocks are predominantly scoria flows of the McMurdo Volcanics; Last Glaciation Ross 1 ice covered the site and traces of rocks (sandstone and granite granules and small pebbles) probably from the Royal Society Range can be found; the drift mantle is thin and patchy with bedrock a little below the surface

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Nil

Soil

Soil parent material:

Constructed fill material derived locally from McMurdo Volcanics and drift cover deposits

Previous disturbance:

Surface constructed as a pipeline track in December 1989; construction recently finished, pipes not yet installed

Soil weathering stage:

6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Xerous to subxerous; light snow on the soil surface

Biological activity:

Nil