Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker, D.A., Auerbach, N.A., Nettleton, T.K., Gallant, A., Murphy, S.M. 1997. Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots: Site factors, physical and chemical soil properties, plant species cover, photographs, soil descriptions, and ordination. Arctic System Science Flux Study, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Preliminary vegetation classification // Vegetation communities and sites // Legend for environmental variables // Environmental data // Relevé size, percent cover // Soils data // Relevé species data //
Appendices: Field descriptions of soils // Plot and soil photos // Plot location map

Field Description of Soil, Plot HV-31

Plot Number:	HV-31
Location:	Hillslope about 300 m west of Happy Valley camp
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/26/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:	Hillslope colluvium and till
Geomorphic Surface:
Elevation:	1000 ft
Slope:	4°
Aspect:	E
Vegetation:	Moist Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Cetraria cucullata, Salix glauca, Tomentypnum nitens, graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-10 cm | Sample S-156
	Strong brown (7.5 YR 4/6). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed mainly of mosses (Aulacomnium turgidum) but also leaves and roots. Top 1 cm is moss.
Oa	10-19 cm | Sample S-157
	Black (10 YR 2/1). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Many very fine roots and coarse roots are common.
Bw	19-36+ cm | Sample S-158
	Dark gray-brown (10 YR 4.5/2). For some patches gray (10 YR 5/1) is the original color of the layer before decomposition of organics and gravel (gravel oxidation responsible for mottles). Enough decomposition has occurred that predominant horizon color is (10 YR 4.5/2) as already listed. Less than 10% gravel; sticky plastic consistence (wet). Silty clay loam texture. Many very fine roots, cobbles up to 3 cm in diameter. Large, strong brown (7.5 YR 4/6) mottles are common. They are diffuse due to a mixing with surrounding material.
Permafrost	36 cm |