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-20

Plot Number:	HV-20
Location:	Hillcrest of toposequence; about 1 km north of Happy Valley Camp
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/20/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:
Geomorphic Surface:	Featureless
Elevation:	1000 ft
Slope:	2°
Aspect:	N
Vegetation:	Moist Betula nana, Eriophorum vaginatum, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp., tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-6 cm | Sample S-115
	Yellow brown (10 YR 5/8). Abrupt, smooth boundary. Loose mat of mosses including Aulacomnium turgidum. Very fine sedge roots.
Oe	6-14 cm | Sample S-116
	Dark brown (7.5 YR 3/4). Abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed of compressed mat of and sedge roots.
Oa	14-26 cm | Sample S-117
	(10 YR 2/2). Abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed of decomposed mosses and sedge roots.
Permafrost	26 cm |
Bs	26-28 cm | Sample S-118
	Very dark brown (10 YR 3/4). Massive structure with 0% gravel. Sticky, plastic consistence (wet). Silty clay loam texture with abrupt, smooth boundary. Has humic layer at top. Difficult to get pure sample without contamination from Bw layer.
Bw	28+ cm | Sample S-119
	Dark gray-brown (2.5 YR 4/2). Massive structure with 0% gravel. Sticky, plastic consistence (wet). Silty clay loam texture. Hard to get sample without contamination from Bs layer.