SOILS OF EUROPE AND SIBERIA Taylor Mills Mario Guzman Jen Morse

Soil Distribution

Spodosols of Scandinavia Prerequisites: High soil moisture Large temperature range Silica containing parent rock Classic features: Spodic horizon Coniferous forests

Spodosols of Scandinavia Average temperature: -5 to -1 C in winter, 4 to 22 C in summer Average rain fall: 1-2 ft Parent rock: Granitic, quartz is major component and Si is major component of quartz

Siberian Soil Types

Map of Siberia

Soil Types Western Siberia-gray soils forest steppe belt is podzolized. B/n taiga and forest steppe is solodized. Characteristic of Ob River differing texture, Novosibirsk region Central Mountain Podzolic soils upper and central taiga subzones of the transbaikal region. North is tundra soils and south is sod soils. Eastern Siberia- Tundra soil “Pole of Cold” (-70 degree C) Magadan, Koyla River - characterized by peat and marshy surface due to suppression of microflora. Ao horizons p.39 Permafrost Boundary b/n permafrost taiga soils and permafrost podzolic soils. Difference in type of parent material p.41

Permafrost - Western Siberian Lowland Geographic location-climate and low relief Freeze thaw- accumulation of meltwater causes formation of swamps 200mm of rainfall in summer months upper layer of soil thaws to a depth of 1 0r 2 meters or 3.3 to 6.6 ft. formation to swamps and lakes- rugged terrain contribute to lack of development

Central and East genesis Central and East genesis Central- Mountain Podzolic soils upper and central taiga from transbaikal, depends on grain size and type of parent material ex. Volcanic ash vs. granite, location – rate of weathering Tundra soil “Pole of Cold” (-70 degree C) Magadan, Koyla River - characterized by peat and marshy surface due to suppression of microflora. Ao horizons p.39 Permafrost Well Drained areas deeper thaw. Slope direction and topography, texture influence soil formation that are distinguishable –genetic types with particular zones for example

Mammoth from Northern Siberia –

Industrialization: Case Study Noril’sk, Siberia Air pollution increase forest mortality Sulfur dioxide- main pollutant High concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Co, Ni) in the upper soil horizons (0-10) contamination.

Siberian Soil Types

Map of Siberia

Soil Types Western Siberia-gray soils forest steppe belt is podzolized (good macrostructure-ventilation air &moisture regime used for plowland). B/n taiga and forest steppe is solodized (poor structure). Characteristic of Ob River differing texture, Novosibirsk region Central Mountain Podzolic soils upper and central taiga subzones of the transbaikal region. North is tundra soils and south is sod soils. Eastern Siberia- Tundra soil “Pole of Cold” (-70 degree C) Magadan, Koyla River - characterized by peat and marshy surface due to suppression of microflora. Ao horizons p.39 Permafrost Podzolic (Okhotsk Sea coast)- strong and deep freezing prolonged seasonal permafrost lead to overmoistening permafrost taiga soils (interior/Kolyma) prolonged seasonalk freezing, gleying cryogenic defromation passiveness of microflora and deep penetration of humus p.41

Permafrost - Western Siberian Lowland Geographic location-climate and low relief Freeze thaw- accumulation of meltwater causes formation of swamps (hydromorphism) 200mm of rainfall in summer months upper layer of soil thaws to a depth of 1 0r 2 meters or 3.3 to 6.6 ft. formation to swamps and lakes- rugged terrain contribute to lack of development

Central and East genesis Central and East genesis Central- Mountain Podzolic soils upper and central taiga from transbaikal, depends on grain size and type of parent material ex. Volcanic ash vs. granite, location – rate of weathering Tundra soil “Pole of Cold” (-70 degree C) Magadan, Koyla River - characterized by peat and marshy surface due to suppression of microflora. Ao horizons p.39 Permafrost Well Drained areas deeper thaw. Slope direction and topography, texture influence soil formation that are distinguishable –genetic types with particular zones for example

Mammoth from Northern Siberia –

Calciols:Calcic Inceptisol Found in dry climates with calcareous partent material. Covers 5% of land area in Europe.

Cambisol: Inceptisol Young Soils Cover 12% of Europe

Chernozem:Mollisol Grass steppes: low ppt most of which falls in spring, cold dry winters, hot summers Largest area if mollisols in world in Kazakstan, Ukraine and Russia Plant cover and decomposition forms humic layer up to 1m Most fertile soils in Europe/ 9% of land cover

Anthrosol Highly modified by human activity Long term cultivation (terracing) addition of fertilizers, earth (sod) or sediments, irrigation Also known as Plaggen soil

Human Impact And Sustainability Issues: Climate Change Soil Sealing Erosion Loss organic matter Loss biodiversity Contamination Compaction Hydro-geological risks (landslides) Salinization European Soil Bureau created in 1996

References Gelisol information and profile provided by search.com (online encyclopedia) Gerasimov, I.P. The Distinctiveness of Siveria’s Genetic Soil Types. Institut Geografii Sibiri I Dal’nego Vostoka Sibirskii Geograficheskii Sbornik, 2, p Sokolova, T.A. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of Mountain Podzolic Soil on Granite of Eastern Transbaikal, p Atlas of the World p.33

References Gelisol information and profile provided by search.com (online encyclopedia) Gerasimov, I.P. The Distinctiveness of Siveria’s Genetic Soil Types. Institut Geografii Sibiri I Dal’nego Vostoka Sibirskii Geograficheskii Sbornik, 2, p Sokolova, T.A. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of Mountain Podzolic Soil on Granite of Eastern Transbaikal, p Atlas of the World p.33 Steila, Donald. (1989). The Geography of Soils: Formation, Distribution, and Management. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.