610

Site number:

610

Authors:

IBC, GGGC, MRB

Date recorded:

1990/02/09

Reason Sampled:

Permafrost and soil moisture investigations

Description:

A flat surface at the back (NW side) of the field store (old hanger) building, 11m from the NW corner and 2m from the edge of the building

Altitude:

8 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-18 °C

Frozen ground depth:

0 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

0cm

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; locally some ground surface scraping has occurred

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Soil

Soil parent material:

Locally derived drift deposits from scoria

Previous disturbance:

Site was disturbed for building construction and receives periodic disturbance from snow clearing activities

Soil weathering stage:

6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

The site close to the building accumulates snow and is often wet in summer from snow thaw and water runoff

Biological activity:

Nil