SOILS 
The physical and chemical characteristics of cold regions soils are 
most stronaly controlled by their association with the micro (and macro) 
foposequence or relief form. In recognition of this the areas depicted on 
ths map represent distinctive soils—geomorphc unts. The numencal code 
appearing in each unit attempts to recognize: |. the Principal sod types in 
a combination of | o3 digits. A single dit indicates that greater than 75% 
of the area is occupied by the sail type designated; a !wo-digit combina- 
ton indicates more than 50% of the unit s occuped by the first soll type 
with the second soil type accounting for most of the remander A three- 
digt combination indicates a codominance of the soil lypes indicated; 
2. the principal landform class reflects both surface pattern and relief 
contrast; 3, the texture of the thawed mineral soil, either at the surfoce 
or immediately below the organic soil horizon; 4. the slope class. The 
coding scheme as outlined does not attempt fo recognize all possible or 
actual variations which may occur within a map unit; rather those whch 
are the really significant, easily recognized dominants. The number and 
number cornbinations used in the code are explaned below. 
71m APPROXIMATION DESIGNATION APPROXIMATE CONVENTIONAL EQUIVALENT 
RELIEF ELEMENT. CHARACTERISTICS 
kK. R. EVERETT 
Institute of Pol 
VEGETATION 
At Prudhoe Bay the vegetation and geomorphic feaiures are intimately interre- 
lated ond both are represented on ths map by a formula of symbols. Each formula 
represents the vegetation and geomorphe features in a particular map unit. The 
numbers in the formula indicate the vegetation types. On polygonal ground the veqe- 
tation types are sequenced in 2or 3 groups of microsites separated by semicolons (;). 
The first group is the vegetation on the polygon centers; the second, vegetation on the 
rims; and the third, vegetation in the polygon troughs. A dash indicates the absence 
of group or microsite category. The symbol of the most abundant vegetation 
type is underlined. The letters preceding the numbers in the formula indicate the 
geornorphic features of each map unit: 
P— polygonal ground S- streams and stream margns 
Fit or beni sloping terrain; L- lakes and ponds 
Ice-wedges are |ll-defined H- pingos 
R- small ridges and hills 
Often subscript is used to further define the geomorphic feature 
F- flat polygons B- river bluffs. 
L- low centered polygons f - frost bails 
H- high centered polygons 1— thermokarst pits 
M- mixed polygons 1 — reticulate-ridged flats 
D ord indicates either heavy or light disturbance respectively, the nature of whch may 
be futher defined by o sul sige |- organic or inorganic litter fram road construction; 
g- gravel, equipment tracks, and/or thick dust from rood, ‘and 1-impounded areas. The 
disturbance symbols may stand alone or follow the vegetation numbers 
ES 
CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES CHARACTERISTIC MICROSITE 
MOST COMMON TyPES 
STREAM. RIVER, AND LAKE MARGINS: 
all 
A 
xe 
DISTURBED AREAS. 
2 
Alaska 
D. WALKER AND P. J. WEBBER 
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Rowarch 
University of Colorado 
PREPARED IN DECEMBER 1973 § Ohio State Uni 
PRODUCED FROM AN UNCONTROLLED MOSAIC 
