Ross Sea Region Soil Sites
559000
559
22-Jan-1988
IBC, GGC
Royal Society Range; Transantarctic Mountains
Soil biological examination
Ross Island & Vicinity, Antarctica, 1:250 000 US Geological Survey, 1986
CS Lscp
No
163.3840
-78.2306
78deg 13.8'S
-163deg -23.0'E
Walcott Bay, approximately 1.5km east of the terminus of Walcott Glacier; on an undulating till surface with weakly developed patterned ground; the sample site is on the floor |
of a depression which occasionally has pond water |
0
Nil
340
cf. Notes for GEOLAND below
(0o)
Oceanic subxerous; the site is damp in the center and shows distinct zonation
-21
Coastal Antarctic
Fluvially modified sandy gravel till
Cyanobacterial accumulation at the center and around the edge of the lowest part of the hollow
Nil at site
SURFACE WEATHERING or |
SURFACE FEATURES |
Unweathered
Nil
559a 2-0cm
101
algal material,
559b 0-2cm
201
moist surface with salt precipitation,
559c 0-2cm
301
moist sand,
559d 0-2cm
401
slightly moist sand,
559e 0-2cm
501
surface salt precipitation from drier surface
Yes
0
1
Geoland
The Walcott Bay area has a complex geology with basement rocks, small volcanic cones and an extensive drift mantle which include a wide range of rocks; the |
lower altitude surfaces represent the most recently exposed surfaces following retreat of ice from Walcott Bay and the nearby alpine glaciers; the lower slopes |
are extensively ice-cored and the landscape is being actively modified in places by thermokarst processes |
Soluble Salt |
Concentration |
55900001
55900002
55900003
55900004
55900005
55900001
55900002
55900003
55900004
55900005
55900001
55900002
55900003
55900004
55900005
12-Dec-2005
Page 517 of 896
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