34

Site number:

34

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/16

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

A raised beach surface, approximately 200m inland from the coast, at the site of a small penguin rookery, on the south eastern coast of Inexpressible Island

Altitude:

25 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-17 °C

Frozen ground depth:

25 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

25cm

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; the site has been modified by penguin nesting

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 with accumulation of mineral material (pebbles, sand and silt) and organic matter, including shell fragments, from nesting penguins

Previous disturbance:

Disturbed by penguin nesting

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

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

Biological activity:

Former penguin nesting site in part identified by the accumulation of nesting stones