652

Site number:

652

Authors:

IBC, GGC, MRB

Date recorded:

1991/12/11

Reason Sampled:

Soil weathering examination

Description:

Approximately 950m NE of Cape Evans and 50m SE of the Barne Glacier on a young, very hummocky moraine surface

Altitude:

175 m

Aspect:

Nil

Slope:

0 °

Climate

Soil climate zone:

Coastal Antarctic

Estimated mean annual temperature:

-18 °C

Frozen ground depth:

16 cm

Frozen type:

Hard ice-cored

Frozen comment:

16cm

Geology

Geological setting:

Rocks of the area belong to the McMurdo Volcanics; the deposit is young till from the Barne Glacier from predominantly Kenyite

Patterned ground:

Nil; hummocky ground with pronounced mounds may be dirt cones

Surface weathering or surface features:

A moderately developed boulder pebble pavement with some surface granular disintegration; scattered thin salt precipitations

Soil

Soil parent material:

Stony till from volcanic rocks

Previous disturbance:

Nil

Soil weathering stage:

1 (Campbell & Claridge 1975)

Soil moisture status:

Oceanic subxerous; scattered small snow patches but the site is dry

Biological activity:

Nil at site but some local algal accumulations