33

Site number:

33

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/16

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

On a gently sloping beach surface, at the northern end of the east side of Inexpressible Island

Altitude:

7 m

Aspect:

E

Slope:

2 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-17 °C

Frozen ground depth:

18 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

18cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Granitic till and granitic raised beach gravels, derived from Granite Harbour Intrusives occur extensively; the beach deposits are well sorted and form a series of distinct levels with gently sloping treads and steeper bouldery risers

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Most surface rocks are well rounded due to wave action

Soil

Soil parent material:

Sandy pebble and cobble gravel beach deposits

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous, little liquid water available at present, moisture source occasional snowmelt

Biological activity:

Penguins and seals