45

Site number:

45

Authors:

IBC, GGC

Date recorded:

1964/11/19

Reason Sampled:

Soil characterisation

Description:

A small basin approximately 1.5km southeast of the highest point on Inexpressible Island and near a small frozen lake; the surface is approximately 1.5m above the lake

Altitude:

275 m

Aspect:

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-19 °C

Frozen ground depth:

20 cm

Frozen type:

hard ice-cemented

Frozen comment:

20cm

Geology

Geological setting:

The surface materials on the higher slopes of Inexpressible Island are mainly bouldery tills from Granite Harbour Intrusives, which occur extensively in the region; small glacially scoured basins have accumulated some finer textured materials on the basin floors

Patterned ground:

Large polygonal nets with shallow troughs

Surface weathering or surface features:

Mainly unstained subangular to angular surface boulders up to 1.5m long

Soil

Soil parent material:

Granitic till reworked by patterned ground and fluvial (lake floor?) processes, possibly with small accumulations of finer wind blown material

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

6 1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous, little liquid water available at present but the soil is probably saturated when summer thaw occurs

Biological activity:

Algae in nearby lake