TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil cover of the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, West Antarctica)

AU - Lupachev, A. V.

AU - Abakumov, E. V.

AU - Goryachkin, S. V.

AU - Veremeeva, A. A.

PY - 2020/10

Y1 - 2020/10

N2 - Data on the morphology and major physical and chemical properties of 130 pedons sampled in the ice-free area of the Fildes Peninsula and adjacent Ardley Island (King George Island, West Antarctica) are analyzed, and the soil-geomorphological map of the surveyed area on the scale of 1:10 000 is presented. The soils have been classified according to the WRB (2014/2015) system. The map provides information on the soil cover patterns in relation to geomorphic elements and also reflects the degree of anthropogenic load on the studied territory. Nearly half (42.9%) of the total area is covered by different subgroups of Cryosols. Flat watersheds are mainly occupied by Protic Arenosols (Turbic) (22.9%). Leptosols are mainly represented by the Lithic (Ochric) subgroup covering 13.8% of the area. Fluvisols are locally developed in the tidal zone (3.3% of the total area) and are represented by the Tidalic (Skeletic) subgroup. The unique area of Fibric Cryic Histosol (0.02%) is separately delineated. Various Hyperskeletic Technosols (Toxic, Transportic, and Urbic) are formed under the influence of human loads and cover about 0.9% of the Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island. The map as the main result of the study can be used for monitoring and forecasting the environmental changes of soil cover pattern under the global climate change and local anthropogenic impact.

AB - Data on the morphology and major physical and chemical properties of 130 pedons sampled in the ice-free area of the Fildes Peninsula and adjacent Ardley Island (King George Island, West Antarctica) are analyzed, and the soil-geomorphological map of the surveyed area on the scale of 1:10 000 is presented. The soils have been classified according to the WRB (2014/2015) system. The map provides information on the soil cover patterns in relation to geomorphic elements and also reflects the degree of anthropogenic load on the studied territory. Nearly half (42.9%) of the total area is covered by different subgroups of Cryosols. Flat watersheds are mainly occupied by Protic Arenosols (Turbic) (22.9%). Leptosols are mainly represented by the Lithic (Ochric) subgroup covering 13.8% of the area. Fluvisols are locally developed in the tidal zone (3.3% of the total area) and are represented by the Tidalic (Skeletic) subgroup. The unique area of Fibric Cryic Histosol (0.02%) is separately delineated. Various Hyperskeletic Technosols (Toxic, Transportic, and Urbic) are formed under the influence of human loads and cover about 0.9% of the Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island. The map as the main result of the study can be used for monitoring and forecasting the environmental changes of soil cover pattern under the global climate change and local anthropogenic impact.

KW - Anthropogenic impact

KW - Arenosols

KW - Cryosols

KW - Leptosols

KW - Permafrost-affected soils

KW - Soil cover

KW - Soil-geomorphological map

KW - PERMAFROST

KW - CRYOSOLS

KW - LANDFORMS

KW - ARDLEY ISLAND

KW - GENESIS

KW - AREA

KW - GLACIER RETREAT

KW - SOUTH-SHETLAND ISLANDS

KW - ELEPHANT POINT

KW - VEGETATION

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85083496880&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/afb39f5f-5ad9-3a61-9238-d01b7862844c/

U2 - 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104613

DO - 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104613

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85083496880

VL - 193

JO - Catena

JF - Catena

SN - 0341-8162

M1 - 104613

ER -