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-35

Plot Number:	HV-35
Location:	Water track transect about 500 m south west of Happy Valley camp
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/27/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:	Fine grained alluvium and organic material
Geomorphic Surface:	High feature in a water track (Palsa?)
Elevation:	1000 ft
Slope:	0°
Aspect:	Flat
Vegetation:	Moist Aulacomnium turgidum, Betula nana, Ledum palustre, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Rubus chamaemorus, dwarf-shrub tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-5 cm | Sample S-170
	Brown to yellow-brown (10 YR 5/3.5). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Top 2 cm are live material. Composed mainly of mosses.
Oe1	5-12 cm | Sample S-171
	Dark brown (7.5 YR 3/4). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Many very fine and fine roots; medium roots are common. Composed of roots and woody stem parts.
Oe2	12-18 cm | Sample S-172
	Very dark brown (7.5 YR 2/4). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Many very fine roots, medium and fine roots are common. Composed of roots and woody stem materials. More silt in this layer than in Oe1.
Oa	18-25 cm | Sample S-173
	Very dark brown (10 YR 2/2). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Almost enough mineral component to be an A horizon, but organics still dominate. Many very fine roots and fine roots are common.
Bw	25-28+ cm | Sample S-174
	Dark gray-brown (10 YR 4/2). Weak, very fine, subangular blocky structure with 0% gravel. Sticky, plastic consistence (wet). Silty clay loam texture. Many very fine roots, no mottles.
Permafrost	25 cm |