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-26

Plot Number:	HV-26
Location:	Toposequence 1 km north of Happy Valley camp and about 400 m west of Haul road
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/24/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:	Hillslope colluvium
Geomorphic Surface:	Featureless
Elevation:	1000 ft
Slope:	<5°
Aspect:	S
Vegetation:	Moist Betula nana, Eriophorum vaginatum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi1	0-14 cm | Sample S-135
	Dark yellow-brown (10 YR 4/6). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Top 7 cm consist mostly of live moss (Sphagnum).
Oi2	14-20 cm | Sample S-136
	Black to very dark brown (10 YR 2/1.5). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Many fine to medium roots. Composed mainly of moss (e.g. Sphagnum ) and secondarily of roots.
Oe	20-28 cm | Sample S-137
	Very dark brown (10 YR 2/2). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed primarily of roots and secondarily of mosses. Many fine and medium roots. Coarse roots common.
Permafrost	26 cm |
Bw	28+ cm | Sample S-138
	Very dark gray-brown to dark brown (10 YR 3/2.5). Massive structure with 0% gravel. Sticky, plastic consistence (wet); clay loam texture. Many very fine roots. About 50% ice.