Characteristics of cryogenic soils along a latitudinal transect in arctic Alaska

Abstract

The morphological, chemical, and physical properties of arctic tundra soils were examined along a 200‐km latitudinal gradient in northern Alaska which includes two major physiographic provinces; the Arctic Coastal Plain and the Arctic Foothills. Annual air temperature and precipitation increase along the gradient from north to south. Soils on the Arctic Coastal Plain support wet, nonacidic tundra vegetation and have high carbonate contents. Soil on the Arctic Foothills support moist, nonacidic tundra in the northern part and moist acidic tundra in the southern part. Most arctic tundra soils are characterized by medium texture, poor drainage, and high organic matter content. From north to south along the transect, the base saturation of the active layer decreases and exchangeable aluminum increases from north to south. Most soils have strongly developed cryogenic features, including warped and broken horizons, ice lenses, thin platy structure, and organic matter frost‐churned into the ice‐rich upper permafrost horizons.