Arctic desert soils: types and their characteristics, formation conditions and properties

The Arctic Desert is located in the Arctic Ocean basin. This space is part of the Arctic geographical zone and is considered an unfavorable region for living. The desert area is covered with glaciers, fragments of stones and rubble. The soils of the Arctic deserts are characterized by many distinctive features, the main of which is considered to be a low degree of fertility.

General characteristics

The main feature of the natural zone of the Arctic desert is that the soil here remains frozen for most of the year. Permafrost reaches a depth of 600-1000 meters, which makes it difficult to drain water.

In the summer, the surface of the Arctic zone is covered with lakes from the melt water of the upper soil layer. The movement of glaciers provokes the spread of rubble and rocks throughout the space of this natural zone.

The Arctic desert is characterized by a very thin soil horizon, which contains a minimum of nutrients and a lot of sand. In warmer areas, there are soils that include some organic matter. Small bushes, algae, mosses and fungi can grow in these places. Brown soils are considered one of the types of such soils. However, they are characterized by a low degree of fertility.

Educational conditions

Polar soils are located in the northernmost climatic zone. The formation of such soils occurs in a dry polar climate, which, of course, affects their properties.

The main soil formation factors prevailing in the Arctic deserts include the following:

Low temperatures. The average annual parameters in this zone are -14 … -18 degrees. In winter, the temperature can drop to -60 degrees, and in summer it can rise to +5.
Minimum precipitation. The average amount of precipitation that falls in this natural area is 50-200 millimeters per year.
Parent rock in the form of rubble deposits. They are marine or glacial. Also, the rock is formed due to weathering. Its structure is fragmentary. This is due to the influence of powerful winds and low temperatures. According to the granulometric composition, clay and loam prevail in this zone.
Permafrost. Snow and ice are on the surface of the ground all year round. As a result, a layer of ice is formed that never melts. This interferes with moisture drainage.
Excess moisture on the surface. During a short warming period, when snow and ice melt, moisture saturates the soil. This is especially true for the lowlands. At the same time, moisture stagnation is observed, which leads to the appearance of swampy zones.
Limited number of plants. The flora in the Arctic soil develops very poorly. It covers only 5-10% of the northern territory and no more than 40-50% of the southern. Plants are predominantly concentrated near rock crevices. They are also found in loamy areas. At the same time, there are practically no bushes and trees in this area. Vegetation is represented mainly by mosses and lichens.

Common soils of the Arctic

The soil of the Arctic desert is not well understood today. However, the available information helps to characterize the main types of soil.

Desert

This type of soil has 2 varieties:

carbonate and saline;
saturated.

The first species has become widespread in the cold regions of the Arctic zone and the oases of Antarctica. There, the amount of precipitation is no more than 100 millimeters. These types of lands are called polar desert. They are characterized by a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. At the same time, there is a s alt crust on the surface.

Saturated soils are characterized by the absence of carbonates and readily soluble s alts in the upper fragments of the soil profile.

Typical humus

Such soils are neutral or slightly acidic. In terms of humus content, they are superior to desert soils. The formation of the fertile layer occurs under the sod zones. At the same time, no s alt accumulation is observed.

As for the geographical location, such soils are mainly located in the so-called "Soviet Arctic". They are typical for the northern regions of Russia, which are located at the highest latitude.

Presence of vegetation

The degree of fertility of such soils is negligible. Therefore, the soils of the Arctic deserts are not used for agricultural purposes. Short and frosty summers do not allow vegetation to fully develop. The only flower found in this area is the polar poppy.

Trees are completely absent here. At the same time, rare shrubs are found in the south of the Arctic landscapes. In height, they can reach 2 meters.

In total, there are about 350 plants in this natural area. The stones are covered with mosses and lichens of various kinds. They form a kind of natural bedding. It is these plants that reindeer mainly feed on.

The high-latitude Arctic has less severe winters. Therefore, arctic buttercups, forget-me-nots, and snow saxifrages are found in this region. You can also see some varieties of sedge. All plants that are present in this climatic zone are characterized by short stature. The basis of the flora is creeping vegetation with undeveloped roots, which are weakly immersed in the ground.

These features of the vegetation, which is found in the Arctic desert, are due to the permanent permafrost of the humus horizon and powerful winds. They tolerate a lot of snow and cause damage to fragile plant branches.

In a short summer brown-red spots appear through the snow cover. These are small blue-green algae that begin to grow under a layer of snow. There are approximately 150 species of such plants in the Arctic desert. Some of them are of commercial importance.

At an altitude of more than 100 meters above sea level, there is practically no vegetation. 75-95% of the territory is completely bare.

Using Arctic soils

The soils of this region are not suitable for agricultural use. The Arctic desert is characterized by a harsh climate, a small layer of humus and permafrost. Therefore, it is not possible to grow cultivated plants in this natural area.

Region is mainly used like this:

pasting grounds - there is a lot of food for reindeer in the arctic zone;
hunting grounds;
mining sites;
reservations for the conservation of rare animals - these include, in particular, polar bears and musk oxen.

However, global warming can significantly affect the situation. The melting of snow and ice in this zone can change the composition and structure of the soil, which will necessarily affect its characteristics. As a result, large areas may become available for agricultural development.

The soils of the Arctic deserts are considered infertile. This region is characterized by very severe climatic conditions that prevent the development of cultivated plants. Therefore, this type of soil is not suitable for agriculture.