Ross Sea Region soils
Manaaki Whenua has conducted research in Antarctica for many years and manages and curates the Ross Sea Region soil database and related materials.
Data sources and soil reports
Historic and recent soil site and soil pit horizon data
The database contains historic and recent soil site and soil pit horizon data from thirty-five years of soil studies by Drs Iain Campbell and Graeme Claridge, and their colleagues. As well as investigation since 2005 by Dr Malcolm McLeod, Dr Megan Balks, Prof Jim Bockheim and colleagues in Wright Valley, Cape Hallett, and the Darwin Mountains.
Data sources and soil reports

Key features
- Over 1000 soil pits at soil sites clustered around ice-free areas.
- Extending as far south and east as 87º S, 150º E and as far north and west as 72º S, 170º E.
- For each soil pit, site and soil horizons are described in detail.
- Site descriptions include observations of the surrounding geological, topographic and climatic contexts, and local surface features, site moisture, parent material and biology.
Soils Map Viewer - Ross Sea Region soils sites
View site locations for the Ross Sea Region Soils Database
The Ross Sea Region Soils Database is a 'point' database containing descriptions of over 1,000 soil pits, together with their chemical, physical, and mineralogical characteristics, at soil sites clustered around ice-free areas. Site descriptions include observations of the surrounding geological, topographic and climatic contexts, and local surface features, site moisture, parent material and biology.

Coverage: Ross Sea Region Antarctica | Date: Varies from 1960s to 2000 | License: CC-BY-ND 3.0 NZ |