Soils of MacRobertson Land

摘要: MacRobertson Land is the portion of Antarctica lying south Mawson Coast between 59° 34′ E and 72° 35′ E. At 5,400 km2, constitutes third largest ice-free area in Antarctica, accounting for 11 % total area. Less than 10 ice occurs along coast. It has five major areas: (i) Northern Prince Charles Mountains, including Amery Oasis, (ii) Southern Escarpment, (iii) Grove (iv) a series small coastal oases inland Framnes Mountains Coast, (v) Vestfold Hills, Rauer-Bolingen Islands, Larsemann Hills Ingrid Christensen Coast. Elevation differences over 3,000 m distances areas from coast up to 650 km create sharp contrasts climatic conditions have marked impact on pedogenesis. Permafrost continuous Land. Active-layer depths range 25 cm 110 or more Patterned ground ubiquitous with frost-susceptible parent materials throughout region. Soil-forming processes can be examined an elevational-longitudinal gradient Vestfold-Larsemann southern Mountains. Salinization, manifested salt efflorescence, carbonation, permafrost development are expected increase inland; pervection, soil organic matter accumulation greatest Desert pavement formation rubification important entire gradient. Unlike Wilkes South Shetland podzolization not been reported The dominant taxa Aquiturbels, Haploturbels, previously unclassified ornithogenic limnogenic soils, endo- epi-lithic soil-like bodies. Lithic Anhyorthels predominant mountains.