Soil distribution in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) are the largest ice-free area (ca. 6692 km 2) in Antarctica. Here we present a reconnaissance (scale = 1:2 million) soil map of the MDVs. The soil map units are subgroups as identified in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Taxonomy. The dominant soil subgroups in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inGeoderma Vol. 144; no. 1; pp. 43 - 49
Main Authors Bockheim, J.G., McLeod, M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 15.03.2008
Subjects
Gelisols
Polar soils
Soil classification
Soil development
Soil maps
Soil development
Polar soils
Soil maps
Soil classification
Gelisols
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) are the largest ice-free area (ca. 6692 km 2) in Antarctica. Here we present a reconnaissance (scale = 1:2 million) soil map of the MDVs. The soil map units are subgroups as identified in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Taxonomy. The dominant soil subgroups in the MDVs are Typic Anhyorthels (43%), Typic Haploturbels (36%), and Typic Anhyturbels (14%). Soils of the MDVs represent an evolutionary sequence that include Glacic Haploturbels/Anhyturbels on Holocene surfaces, Typic Haploturbels/Anhyturbels on late Quaternary surfaces, Typic Anhyorthels on late to mid-Quaternary surfaces, Salic Anhyorthels on mid-to early Quaternary surfaces, and Petrosalic/Petrogypsic/Petronitric Anhyorthels on Pliocene and older surfaces. Soils on silt-rich tills of Pliocene and older age generally are Typic or Salic Anhyorthels; they feature less weathering than younger soils because (i) they are derived from quartzose materials largely devoid of weatherable minerals and (ii) they have been subject to considerable wind erosion.
ISSN:0016-7061
1872-6259
DOI:10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.10.015