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-17

Plot Number:	HV-17
Location:	Snowbed in bluff overlooking Sag. River, south of access road
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/19/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:	Undifferentiated hillslope alluvium and glacial till
Geomorphic Surface:	Gelifluction features
Elevation:	950 ft
Slope:	30°
Aspect:	E
Vegetation:	Moist Cassiope tetragona, Dryas integrifolia, Lupinus arcticus, dwarf shrub, forb tundra (snowbed)
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-2 cm | No sample
	Layer too thin to sample. Composed of moss Tomentypnum nitens.
Oe	2-4 cm | No sample
	Very dark brown (7.5 YR 2/2). Nonsticky, nonplastic consistence (wet); abrupt, wavy boundary. Layer too thin to sample.
Oa	4-9 cm | Sample S-109
	Black (10 YR 2/1). Moderate, fine, subangular blocky structure that breaks to moderate, fine, granular structure. Silty texture with clear, wavy boundary. Many very fine to fine roots.
A/B	9-35 cm | Sample S-110
	A and B horizons are mixing in this layer probably due to downslope movement. Rocks showing buildup of carbonates on undersides.
A
	Very dark brown (10 YR 2/2). Weak, fine, subangular blocky structure that breaks to moderate, fine granular structure. 25% gravel. Slightly sticky, slightly plastic consistence (wet); sandy loam texture. Many fine to very fine roots.
B
	Brown (10 YR 4.5/3). Weak, very fine, subangular blocky structure that breaks to moderate, fine, granular structure. 25% gravel. Sticky, plastic consistence (wet); clay loam texture.
C	35+ cm | Sample S-111
	Very dark gray-brown to brown (10 YR 2.5/2). Weak, medium, granular structure with greater than 75% gravel. Slightly sticky, slightly plastic consistence (wet); clay loam texture. Depth undetermined because there were too many rocks to dig further.