Soil and Landform Associations, Prudhoe Bay Area, Alaska^∗

Abstract

Seven soils belonging to four soil orders are described from the Prudhoe Bay area, Alaska. The soils and their associated land-forms, macro- and micro-, have been strongly conditioned by the progression of events related to the thaw-lake cycle.

Pergelic Cryoborolls (Mollisols) occur on pingos and some high center polygons. Their thick mollic epipedons were produced, for the most part, in organic materials reworked in the bed of the lake from which the pingo originated. Less well drained Mollisols, Pergelic Cryaquolls, are found on slopes marginal to drainages, some interfluves and high center polygons, and occasionally on the rims of well-developed low center polygons.

Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts (Inceptisols) and Pergelic Cryohemists and Cryofibrists (Histosols) are commonly associated with drained lake basins and low center polygon terrain. The Histosols may be the products of long stable conditions which permitted the development of thick peaty deposits or their organic material may represent the products of present vegetation laid down on old reworked organic materials of the former lake. Pergelic Cryaquepts are common in areas lacking reworked organic materials in relatively recently drained lake basins and on some floodplains. Elevation of areas of reworked organic materials to better drained positions by the processes of thermokarst and thermal erosion or by uplift of polygon rims due to expansion of their underlying ice wedges results in oxidation of the mineral-rich organic materials and in many cases the production of a mollic epipedon. Sand dunes and low river terraces are sites of Entisols – Pergelic Cryopsamments and Pergelic Cryorthents, respectively.