Static Cryosol (SC)

These Cryosolic soils have developed primarily in coarse-textured mineral parent materials, or in a wide textural range of recently deposited or disturbed sediments where evidence of cryoturbation is still largely absent, or in both. They may have organic surface horizons less than 40 cm thick.

Static Cryosols have permafrost within 1 m of the surface but show little or no evidence of cryoturbation or features that indicate cryoturbation. They may be associated with landforms exhibiting patterned ground features such as polygons.

Orthic Eutric Static Cryosol (OE.SC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, LFH, Bm, BCgj, Cz

These Static Cryosols have a relatively high degree of base saturation, as indicated by their pH. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a Bm horizon less than 10 cm thick.
  2. They have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of 5.5 or greater in some or all of the B horizons.
  3. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but gley features commonly occur immediately above the permafrost table.

Orthic Dystric Static Cryosol (OD.SC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, LFH, Bm, BCgj, Cz

These acidic Static Cryosols have a low degree of base saturation, as indicated by their pH. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a Bm horizon less than 10 cm thick.
  2. They have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of less than 5.5 throughout the B horizons.
  3. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but gley features commonly occur immediately above the permafrost table.

Brunisolic Eutric Static Cryosol (BRE.SC)

Common horizon sequence: LFH, Bm, BCgj, Cz

These Static Cryosols have a relatively high degree of base saturation, as indicated by their pH. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a Bm horizon at least 10 cm thick.
  2. They have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of 5.5 or greater in some or all of the B horizons.

Brunisolic Dystric Static Cryosol (BRD.SC)

Common horizon sequence: LFH, Bm, BCgj, Cz

These acidic Static Cryosols have a low degree of base saturation, as indicated by their pH. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a Bm horizon at least 10 cm thick.
  2. They have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of less than 5.5 throughout the B horizons.

Luvisolic Static Cryosol (L.SC)

Common horizon sequence: LFH, Om, Ah, or Ae, Bt, Cg, Cz

These Static Cryosols have a clay accumulation in the B horizon (Bf). They occur mainly on fine-textured parent materials under forest vegetation. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have an eluvial horizon (Ahe, Ae, Aeg).
  2. They have a Bt horizon that is greater than 10 cm thick.
  3. Some mottling may occur in the lower part of the solum

Gleysolic Static Cryosol (GL.SC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Bg or Cg (or both), Cz

These Static Cryosols have developed in poorly drained areas under reducing conditions. The name Gleysolic, rather than Gleyed, is used because these soils are not equivalent in degree of gleying to Gleyed subgroups of other orders. Gleysolic subgroups of Cryosolic soils have evidence of gleying similar in degree to that of soils of the Gleysolic order. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have evidence of gleying in the form of low chromas or mottling to the mineral surface.
  2. Their surface mineral horizon, Bg or Cg,may be overlain by organic layers less than 40 cm thick.

Regosolic Static Cryosol (R.SC)

Common horizon sequence: C, Cg, Cz

These Static Cryosols have developed on recently deposited or strongly cryoturbated soil materials. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils lack B horizons.
  2. These soils may have thin (<15 cm thick) peaty organic layers and a thin Ah horizon.

Histic Eutric Static Cryosol (HE.SC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Ah, Bm, Cg, Cz

These Static Cryosols have a relatively high degree of base saturation, as indicated by their pH, and thick (>15 cm) organic (peaty) horizons in the upper 1 m of the solum. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a continuous surface organic horizon (O, H) ranging in thickness from >15 to 40 cm.
  2. These soils have Bm horizons that are continuous over the imperfectly to well-drained part of the pedon.
  3. These soils have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of 5.5 or greater in some or all of the B horizons.
  4. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but there is usually a gleyed horizon immediately above the permafrost table.

Histic Dystric Static Cryosol (HD.SC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Ah, Bm, Cg, Cz

These acidic Static Cryosols have a low degree of base saturation, as indicated by their pH, and thick (>15 cm) organic (peaty) horizons in the upper 1 m of the solum. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a surface organic horizon (O, H) ranging in thickness from >15 to 40 cm.
  2. These soils have Bm horizons that are continuous over the imperfectly to well-drained part of the pedon that is relatively unaffected by cryoturbation.
  3. These soils have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of less than 5.5 throughout the B horizons.
  4. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but there is usually a gleyed horizon immediately above the permafrost table.

Histic Regosolic Static Cryosol (HR.SC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, C, Cg, Cz

These Static Cryosols have relatively thick (>15 cm) organic (peaty) horizons in the upper 1 m of the solum. They are identified by the following properties:

  1. These soils have a surface organic horizon (O, H) ranging in thickness from >15 to 40 cm.
  2. They lack B horizons.
  3. They may have thin peaty organic layers and a thin Ah horizon.
  4. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but there is usually a gleyed horizon immediately above the permafrost table.

Note: Diagnostic horizons are underlined.

Report a problem or mistake on this page
Date modified: