37

Site number:

37

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/16

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

A raised beach surface, approximately 100m inland from the coast, at the site of a small penguin rookery, on the south eastern coast of Inexpressible Island; an unoccupied penguin nesting site partly guano covered

Altitude:

20 m

Aspect:

E

Slope:

4 °

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

Patterned ground:

Nil

Surface weathering or surface features:

Nest sites are clearly demarcated; ground surface is covered with old guano

Soil

Soil parent material:

Partly decomposed penguin guano mixed with and overlying granitic beach gravels

Previous disturbance:

A penguin nesting site, not presently occupied, as accumulations of guano are partly decomposed

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

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

Biological activity:

Site previously occupied for penguin nesting