Soil and permafrost in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica: stable or dynamic?

• Published in: Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica
• Main Authors: M. R. Balks, T. A. O’Neill
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad de La Rioja 2016
• Subjects: cryosol; gelisol; soil temperature; geomorphic processes; geo; envir; Cape Evans; Lake Vanda; Ross Sea; Vanda; Wright Valley; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice; permafrost; wedge*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.2923; https://doaj.org/article/691cbc0fa0964a4d864c7d98aabb469c

Soils in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica generally comprise a surface desert pavement and a seasonally thawed active layer over permafrost. Most soils are formed on regolith such as glacial till or colluvium. Mean annual air temperatures range from -18°C to -24°C with low precipitation. The active...