Zbigniew KLIMOWICZ POLISH POLAR STUDIES Department of Soil Science XXVI Polar Symposium Maria Curie-Sktodowska University Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin POLAND

Lublin, June 1999

SOILS AMONG ROCK OUTLIERS IN THE BELLSUND REGION (SPITSBERGEN)

GLEBY W OBRĘBIE WYCHODNI SKAŁEK W REJONIE BELLSUNDU (SPITSBERGEN)

INTRODUCTION

The soils of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard Archipelago, have al-ready been the subject of a number of research works of which such authors as Szerszeń (1974), Ugolini et al. (1982), Skiba and Kuczek (1983), Sletten (1988), Plichta (1993) are to be mentioned. Their papers dealt with different Spitsbergen areas extending from the Hornsund region in the southwest part of the island to Kaffiörya (Oscar II Land) northwest from Isfjord.

The aim of numerous geographical expeditions of the Institute of Earth Scien-ces, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, in which also soil scientists parti-cipated, were among other things, detailed studies of the conditions of soil forma-tion and the character of the soil cover in the Bellsund region, which resulted in publishing many papers (e.g. Melke et al. 1990, Uziak 1992, Klimowicz et al. 1993, Klimowicz and Uziak 1996a, Klimowicz et al. 1996b).

In the todate publications concerning also the relationship of soils with relief forms including the character of micro-relief, soils associated with rock outliers so characteristic for the landscape of the Bellsund south coast have been disregarded. Thus the purpose of this paper is the presentation of the specificity of soils associa-ted with the mentioned forms.

AREA AND METHODS

The geological structure and relief of the Bellsund south coast were the object of studies, among others of Pękala (1987), Pękala and Reder (1989), Chlebowski

126 Zbigniew Klimowicz

(1989), Dallmann et al. (1990), concerning also largely the coastal zone (Harasi-miuk and Jezierski 1991). From the pedological point of view a strong influence on the physical and chemical properties of soils is exerted by the petrographic-mineralogical features of rocks of Hecla Hoek formation (presented in the paper of Chlebowski 1989) as well as of other geological formations constituting the pre-sent more or less distinct rock outliers.

The rocks of Hecla Hoek formation are characterized by a great lithological and typological differentiation. According to Chlebowski (1989) they undergo a com-mon carbonization and quartzitization, that is expressed by the richness of the present geological environment in Ca and Mg ions and silica. In the opinion of the mentioned author, carbonates can be leached intensively and then precipitated in some soils, e.g., in the form of infiltrates on the lower surface of rock fragments. This phenomenon was given attention a little earlier by Sletten (1988) in relation to soils of Svalbard.

Rock outliers in the Bellsund region are found on elevated coastal terraces (Szczęsny et al. 1989). In the Calypsostranda region the are grouped largely on higher terraces (from 50 to 130 m a.s.l.), while west- and south-westwards (Lyell-stranda, Kapp Lyell region, Lognedalsflya) they sometimes go down to sea level. Soils accompanying rocks outliers in the Calypsostranda area (object „A" - about 60-70 m a.s.l.), and in the Lognedalsflya region (object „B" - about 15-20 m a.s.l.) underwent detailed studies (Figs. 1, 2). The morphology of the soils was studied along topographic soil cross-sections averaging 100 m in length. Levelling meas-urements and soil studies were carried out at points every 10 metres. The plant cover density was estimated, giving the predominating plant species. From the selec-ted soil profiles samples were taken for laboratory examinations in which their

• 3 (A, B)

Fig. 1. Location of the study area in the Bellsund region; 1 - mountain ridges, 2 - glaciers, 3 (A, B) • study sites

SVALBARD

Soils among rock outliers in the Bellsund region (Spitsbergen) 127

Fig. 2. Study site - „A" (acc. to Photogeological Map of the Renardbreen, Scottbreen and Blomlibreen forefield... Szczęsny et al. 1989); 1 - rock outliers, 2 - talus cones, 3 - alluvial fans, 4 - snow patches, 5 -lakes and streams, 6-marine terrace (160-180 m a.s.l.), 7-marine terrace (100-130m a.s.l.), 8 -ma-rine terrace (70-80 m a.s.l.), 9 - marine terrace (50-60 m a.s.l.), 10 - marine terrace (35^4-5 m a.s.l.),

11 - marine terrace (18-30 m a.s.l.), 12 - depressions, „A" - investigated object

granulometric as well as basic chemical composition were determined. Analysis of the soil properties was made on the basis of mean arithmetic values, separately for soils located higher (a), in direct neighbourhood of rock outliers and those located several metres lower (b), in an area with a considerably smaller sloping gradient (Fig.3).

RESULTS

The central, highest part of rock outliers of object „A" (in the Calypsostranda region) is built of strongly weathered tillites grey-brown in colour. This is an area without soil, and lithosols occur only locally. The percentage of plant cover is very small. Going along the cross-section to about 20 m, the amount of skeleton decre-ases and the content of earthy parts increases. Vegetation density reaches about

128 Zbigniew Klimowicz

(Л CD

E

6 8 -

66

6 4 -

62 O 20 40 60 80 100 m

Fig. 3. Schematic location of investigated pits; a - pit close to rock outliers, b - pit at distance from rock outliers

50%. Besides mosses and lichens, the predominating vascular plants are: Cetraria hiascens, Stereocaulon sp„ Salix polaris, Silene acaulis, Saxifraga oppositifolia. The soils are brown-striped (FAO-Gelic Cambisols).

Soils occurring lower belong to weakly developed and partially gleyed ones. Their surface is differentiated (stony circles) with a plant cover reaching about 60%. Cetraria hiascens predominate among vascular plants, and then follow: Salix polaris, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Stereocaulon sp., Polygonum viviparum (Rönning 1964).

The soils of object „B" (Lognedalsflya), like in the Calypsostranda region, are strongly skeleton and, in contrast to those mentioned lately, are covered by vege-tation more abundantly (40-90%). Besides mosses, the following deserve a men-tion: Stereocaulon sp., Cetraria hiascens, Salix polaris, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Silene acaulis, Cerastium arcticum, Dryas octopetala, Oxyria dygina, Saxifraga caespitosa. Profile (4) in the central part of this object is represented by brown soil, while the others pits (5 and 6) by weakly developed soils.

As regards grain-size distribution, sand fraction predominates in earthy parts (particularly in Calypsostranda) in both objects (of their highest elevation). The average content of particles < 0.02 mm is about 20%. Thus, they are heavy loamy sands bordering with light loam, silty in places. Such a granulometric composition is typical of brown soils of the discussed area. It confirms also earlier observations (Szerszeń 1974, Klimowicz, Uziak 1996a) concerning the formation conditions of arctic brown soils. The soils occurring lower are distinctly poorer in sand fraction, but they are much richer in particles < 0.02 mm and, particularly in the case of Calypsostranda, also in colloidal particles (Figs. 4, 5). Their composition is that of light and medium loams mostly silty.

The reaction of the soils studied, depending largely on chemism of the bedrock, is distinctly alkaline in the profiles of object "A" and neutral in the soils accompany-ing rocks outliers in the Lognedalsflya region (Figs. 4, 5). A higher pH charac-

Soils among rock outliers in the Bellsund region (Spitsbergen) 129

CALYPSOSTRANDA

m П

pH <KCI> я b

5

4

3 -

2 -

D

1 1 Fig. 4. Granulometric composition, pH (KCl) and С org. (medium values) - object "A" (Calypsostran-

da), a - soils close to rock outliers, b - soils at a distance from rock outliers

terizes soils generally occurring east of Kapp Lyell, i.e. in an area richer in calcium carbonate and subjected less to the oceanic influence, as compared to the soils of the western "belt" (Klimowicz et al. 1996b).

Distinct regularities are noticed in the content and distribution of organic carbon. A decisively higher content of this component is in the soils of object "B" (Fig. 5), which is justified by a richer vegetation. Soils occurring nearer the coastline have more favourable (for plant growth) climatic conditions (precipitations, temperature) and are better fertilized (more numerous avifauna, more reindeers) in comparison to soils situated more deep into the inland (Fig. 1). Much more organic carbon, particularly in object "B", is contained also in soils of a stronger granulometric

fractions %

LOGNEDALSFLYA

a b

pH (KCl)

• V

2 -

1-0.1 0.1-0,02 <0.002 mm

Fig. 5. Granulometric composition, pH (KCl) and С org. (medium values) - object "B" (Lognedalsflya); a - soils close to rock outliers, b - soils at a distance from rock outliers

130 Zbigniew Klimowicz

composition than in those with a smaller content of particles < 0.02 mm and < 0.002 mm, belonging to loamy sands and light loams. This is quite the reverse than in other areas, especially flat, where higher humicity is connected with soils of a lighter granulometric composition, belonging typologically to arctic brown soils (Klimowicz, Uziak 1996a).

I would see the cause of this phenomenon largely in the microclimatic condi-tions. Soils formed at higher altitudes of rock outliers are more exposed to cold and strong winds which do not only cool the soil but also dry it (moreover water flows gravitationally down to lower located places). Such conditions are unfavou-rable for plant growth, which is directly connected with a small amount of organic residues remaining in the soil and, furthermore, with humus formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Soils directly associated with rock outliers (it largely concerns the mentioned forms at higher altitudes) in the Bellsund region differ with regard to some pro-perties from those of the other regions.

The differences concern particularly the granulometric composition and orga-nic carbon. The content of the latter components is largely determined by vegeta-tion, the growth of which is limited by microclimatic conditions (mainly moisture content in soil, temperature and wind influence). Also avifauna can locally affect plant growth.

REFERENCES

CHLEBOWSKI R . 1 9 8 9 : Charakterystyka petrograficzno-mineralogiczna skał formacji Hecla Hoek w rejo-nie południowego obramowania Bellsundu - Zachodni Spitsbergen. Wyprawy Geograficzne na Spits-bergen, UMCS, Lublin: 5 1 - 5 8 .

DALLMANN W . K . , HJELLE A . , OHTA Y., SALVIGSEN O . , BJORNERUD M . G . , HAUSER E . C „ MAHER H . D „ CRAD-

DOCK C. 1990: Geological Map of Svalbard 1: 100,000, Sheet В 1 IG: Van Keulen Fjorden. Norsk Po-larinstitutt, Oslo.

FAO-Unesco 1997: Soil map of the World - revised legend. ISRIC, Wageningen. HARASIMIUK M„ JEZIERSKI W. 1 9 9 1 : Types of coast of south Bellsund (West Spitsbergen) and tendency of

their evolution. Wyprawy Geograficzne na Spitsbergen, UMCS, Lublin: 1 7 - 2 2 .

KLIMOWICZ Z. , MELKE J . , UZIAK S. 1 9 9 3 : The influence of relief and lithology on soil formation in West Spitsbergen. 6th Intern. Permafrost. Conf. in Beijing, Proceed., 1: 3 5 0 - 3 5 5 .

KLIMOWICZ Z „ UZIAK S. 1996a: Arctic soil properties associated with micro-relief forms in the Bellsund region (Spitsbergen). Catena 28, 135-149, Amsterdam.

KLIMOWICZ Z „ MELKE J . , UZIAK S. 1996b: Mountain soils derived from massive rocks in the northwestern Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spitsbergen. Polish Polar Research 17( 1-2): 85-92.

MELKE J . , CHODOROWSKI J „ UZIAK S. 1 9 9 0 : Soil formation and soil properties in the areas of Lyellstranda, Dyrstad and Logne in the region of Bellsund (West Spitsbergen). Polish J . Soil Sei., 2 3 : 2 1 3 - 2 2 2 .

PĘKALA К. 1987: Rzeźba i utwory czwartorzędowe przedpola lodowców Scotta i Renarda (Spitsbergen). XIV Sympozjum Polarne, Lublin: 84-87.

Soils among rock outliers in the Bellsund region (Spitsbergen) 131

PĘKALA К . , REDER J. 1989: Rzeźba i osady czwartorzędowe Dyrstaddalen and Lognedalen (West Spits-bergen). Wyprawy Geograficzne na Spitsbergen, UMCS, Lublin: 159-171.

PLICHTA W. 1993: Gleby Kaffiöyry, Spitsbergen. Szkic monograficzny. Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika, Toruń: pp. 56.

RUNNING O. L. 1 9 6 4 : Svalbard flora. Polarhanbok, Oslo. SKIBA S„ KUCZEK M. 1983: Preliminary studies of the soil cover in North-West Sörkapp Land, SW Spits-

bergen. Zesz. Nauk UJ. Prace Geogr., 94: 93-103. SLETTEN R. S . 1988: The formation of pedogenic carbonates on Svalbard: The influence of cold tempera-

tures and freezing. [In:] Permafrost. V Intern. Conf., Trondheim. Proceed., Vol. 1: 467^172. SZCZĘSNY R. , DZIERŻEK J . , HARASIMIUK M . , NITYCHORUK J . , PĘKALA К . , REPELEWSKA-PĘKALOWA J . 1 9 8 9 : P h o -

togeological map of Renardbreen, Scottbreen and Blomlibreen forefield (Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spits-bergen), 1:10,000, Wyd. Geol. Warsaw.

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STRESZCZENIE

W dość licznych publikacjach dotyczących gleb rejonu Bellsundu nie zajmowano się dotychczas gle-bami towarzyszącymi wychodniom skałek, charakterystycznych dla krajobrazu omawianego obszaru. Celem opracowania jest zatem przedstawienie specyfiki gleb związanych ze wspomnianymi formami. Badaniami szczegółowymi objęto gleby występujące w obrębie wychodni skałek na obszarze Calypso-strandy (obiekt „A") i Lognedalsflya (obiekt „B"), (fig. 1, 2). Pomiary niwelacyjne oraz badania gleb wykonano w punktach, w odstępach 10-metrowych. Określono też szacunkowo gęstość pokrycia roślin-nego z podaniem dominujących gatunków roślin naczyniowych. Analizę właściwości gleb przeprowa-dzono, dla celów porównawczych, oddzielnie dla gleb położonych wyżej (a), w bezpośrednim sąsie-dztwie wychodni skałek i gleb położonych kilka metrów niżej (b), w terenie o znacznie mniejszym na-chyleniu lub prawie płaskim (fig. 3). W laboratorium oznaczono uziarnienie gleb oraz ich podstawowe właściwości chemiczne. Gleby towarzyszące wychodniom skałek różnią się niektórymi właściwościami od gleb pozostałych obszarów. Główna różnica dotyczy odmiennej zależności pomiędzy składem granu-lometrycznym, a zasobnością w próchnicę (fig. 4, 5).