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-33

Plot Number:	HV-33
Location:	Water track transect about 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/26/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:
Geomorphic Surface:	Palso
Elevation:	1050 ft
Slope:	0°
Aspect:	Flat
Vegetation:	Moist Betula nana, Ledum palustre, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Rubus chamaemorus, Sphagnum sp., dwarf shrub, moss tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-9 cm | Sample S-162
	Dark yellow-brown (10 YR 3/4). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed mainly of mosses (Sphagnum). Loose mat; top 4 cm are live material.
Oe1	9-14 cm | Sample S-163
	Dark brown (7.5 YR 4/4). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Many fine and very fine roots; common medium roots. Composed mainly of Sphagnum mosses, roots. More compression than Oi layer.
Oe2	14-23 cm | Sample S-164
	Very dark brown to black (10 YR 2/1.5). 0% gravel. Composed mainly of sedge parts. Also roots and mosses. More compression than Oe1 layer; can peel this layer apart in sheets. Many very fine roots.
Permafrost	23 cm |
Bw	23+ cm | Sample S-165
	(10 YR 3/2). Weak, fine, subangular blocky structure with 0% gravel. Sticky, plastic consistence (wet). Silty clay loam texture. Many very fine roots. No mottles.