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-44

Plot Number:HV-44
Location:Northwest-facing footslope; nonacidic tundra
Description by:A. Gallant
Sample Date:7/25/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:Colluvium and alluvium
Geomorphic Surface:Turf hummocks
Elevation:950 ft
Slope:
Aspect:NW
Vegetation:Moist Dryas integrifolia, Equisetum arvense, Lupinus arcticus, forb, dwarf-shrub, moss tundra
Horizon:Description:
Oi10-7 cm | No sample
Yellow-brown (10 YR 5/6). 0% gravel; abrupt, broken boundary. Top 2 cm are live moss. Composed mainly of Tomentypnum nitens and Hylocomium splendens.
 
Oi27-14 cm | Sample S-205
Dark yellow-brown (10 YR 4/6). 0% gravel; abrupt, wavy boundary. Composed mainly of mosses. Discontinuous layer. Many medium and very fine roots.
 
Oe7-14 cm | Sample S-206
Black (10 YR 2/1). 0% gravel; abrupt, wavy boundary. Composed mainly of sedge parts and mosses. Discontinuous layer. Many very fine, fine and medium roots.
 
Oa14-21 cm | Sample S-207
Black (10 YR 2/1). 0% gravel. Many very fine, fine and medium roots.
 
Bw21-62 cm | Sample S-208
Very dark gray-brown (2.5 YR 3/2). Weak, very fine, subangular blocky structure with 75% gravel. Very sticky, very plastic consistence (wet). Silt clay texture. Includes cobbles up to 48 cm in diameter. Many very fine roots. Common small to large mottles (.5 YR 5/6).
 
Permafrost62 cm |