Soil development on recent end moraines of the Klutlan Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada

Auteurs :
JACOBSON, G. L. Jr
BIRKS, H. J. B.

Description :
Data on soils with six Neoglacial moraines of the Klutlan Glacier have been compared with those from moraines at the warm, moist coastal site of Glacier Bay, 160km south. Data for nine chemical variables were subjected to a principal components analysis| the major pattern in the data reflects the differences between soils of low organic content and high pH present in early successional stages, and nutrient-rich soils with high organic content and low pH present after succession has progressed toward the spruce forest. These trends in soil development with time are strikingly similar to those reported from Glacier Bay, except that the changes in soil properties appear to be delayed by 50100 yr at the Klutlan terminus. Low temperatures, a short growing season, and very low mean annual precipitation probably limit plant growth and account for the delayed soil development on the Klutlan moraines.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Quaternary research New York, 1980, vol. 14, n°. 1, p. 87-100, Références bibliographiques : 36réf.

Date :
1980