Cryosolic soils

Turbic Cryosol (TC)

These are Cryosolic soils that have developed primarily in mineral material and have marked evidence of cryoturbation (Harris et al. 1988). They generally occur on patterned ground, which includes such cryogenic forms as sorted and nonsorted circles, nets, polygons, stripes, and steps in stony or coarse-textured material and nonsorted units such as earth hummocks in medium- and fine-textured materials. The pedon includes all elements of the microtopography in cycles less than 7 m in width. Processes include sorting of different-sized particles and mixing of both mineral and organic material from different horizons. Organic (Oy) or organic-rich, mineral horizons (Ahy) are characteristically present in the region of the permafrost table (upper surface of permafrost layer), and there is generally a buildup of ice in the upper part of the permafrost layer.

Turbic Cryosols are mineral soils that have permafrost within 2 m of the surface and show marked evidence of cryoturbation laterally within the active layer, as indicated by disrupted or mixed or broken horizons, or displaced material or a combination of both.

Orthic Eutric Turbic Cryosol (OE.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Bmy, BCy, Cgy, Omy, Cz

These Turbic 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 Bmy horizon and may have a Bm horizon less than 10 cm thick.
  2. The horizons are strongly disrupted by cryoturbation. Tongues of mineral and organic horizons, organic and mineral intrusions, and oriented stones commonly occur.
  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.

Orthic Eutric Turbic Cryosols have a Bmy horizon and subsurface organic (Omy, Ohy) or organic-rich, mineral horizons (Ahy). Surface organic horizons up to 15 cm thick, moder Ah horizons, and Bm horizons less than 10 cm thick may occur.

Orthic Dystric Turbic Cryosol (OD.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Bmy, BCy, Cgy, Omy, Cz

These acidic Turbic 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 Bmy horizon and may have a Bm horizon less than 10 cm thick.
  2. The horizons are strongly disrupted by cryoturbation. Tongues of mineral and organic horizons, organic and mineral intrusions, and oriented stones commonly occur.
  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.

Orthic Dystric Turbic Cryosols have a Bmy horizon and subsurface organic (Omy, Ohy) or organic-rich, mineral horizons (Ahy). Surface organic horizons up to 15 cm thick, moder Ah horizons, and Bm horizons less than 10 cm thick may occur.

Brunisolic Eutric Turbic Cryosol (BRE.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Bm, Bmy or BCy, Cgy, Omy, Cz

These Turbic 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, which is continuous over the imperfectly to well-drained part of the pedon that is relatively unaffected by cryoturbation.
  2. The horizons, other than the Bm, are strongly disrupted by cryoturbation. Tongues of mineral and organic horizons, organic and mineral intrusions, and oriented stones commonly occur.
  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.

Brunisolic Dystric Turbic Cryosol (BRD.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Bm, Bmy or BCy, Cgy, Omy, Cz

These acidic Turbic 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, which is continuous over the imperfectly to well-drained part of the pedon that is relatively unaffected by cryoturbation.
  2. The horizons, other than the Bm, are strongly disrupted by cryoturbation. Tongues of mineral and organic horizons, organic and mineral intrusions, and oriented stones commonly occur.
  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.

Gleysolic Turbic Cryosol (GL.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Bgy or Cgy (or both), Cz

These Turbic 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. They have evidence of gleying in the form of low chromas or mottling to the mineral surface.
  2. Their uppermost mineral horizon, Bgy or Cgy, may be overlain by organic layers less than 40 cm thick, or a combination of surface and subsurface organic horizons >15 cm thick

Regosolic Turbic Cryosol (R.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Cy, Cgy, Cz

These Turbic 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 usually have little incorporated organic matter.
  3. Cryoturbation is manifested by oriented stones, displacement of materials, and sorting.

Histic Eutric Turbic Cryosol (HE.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Ah, Bmy or Bm (or both) or Cgy, Cz

These Turbic 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 either a continuous surface organic horizon (Ohy, Hy) ranging in thickness from >15 to 40 cm, or a combination of surface and subsurface organic horizons >15 cm thick.
  2. They have a Bm or Bmy horizon, or both, which is continuous over the imperfectly to well-drained part of the pedon.
  3. The horizons, other than the Bm, are strongly disrupted by cryoturbation. Tongues of mineral and organic horizons, organic and mineral intrusions, and oriented stones commonly occur.
  4. These soils have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of 5.5 or greater in some or all of the B horizons.
  5. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but there is usually a gleyed horizon immediately above the permafrost table.

Histic Dystric Turbic Cryosol (HD.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Ah, Bmy or Bm (or both) or Cgy, Cz

These acidic Turbic 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 either a continuous surface organic horizon (Ohy, Hy) ranging in thickness from >15 to 40 cm, or a combination of surface and subsurface organic horizons >15 cm thick.
  2. They have a Bm or Bmy horizon (or both), which is continuous over the imperfectly to well-drained part of the pedon that is relatively unaffected by cryoturbation.
  3. The horizons, other than the Bm, are strongly disrupted by cryoturbation. Tongues of mineral and organic horizons, organic and mineral intrusions, and oriented stones commonly occur.
  4. These soils have a pH (0.01 M CaCl2) of less than 5.5 throughout the B horizons.
  5. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but there is usually a gleyed horizon immediately above the permafrost table.

Histic Regosolic Turbic Cryosol (HR.TC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Cy, Cgy, Cz

These Turbic Cryosols have developed on recently deposited or strongly cryoturbated soil materials. They have 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 either a continuous surface organic horizon (Ohy, Hy) ranging in thickness from >15 to 40 cm, or a combination of surface and subsurface organic horizons >15 cm thick.
  2. They lack B horizons.
  3. Cryoturbation is manifested by oriented stones, displacement of materials, and sorting.
  4. The surface horizons are not strongly gleyed, but there is usually a gleyed horizon immediately above the permafrost table.

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.

Organic Cryosol (OC)

These Cryosolic soils have developed primarily from organic material containing more than 17% organic carbon by weight and are underlain by permafrost within 1 m of the surface. They are greater than 40 cm thick, or greater than 10 cm thick over either a lithic contact or an ice layer that is at least 30 cm thick. Landforms associated with Organic Cryosols include palsas, peat polygons, and high-centre polygons.

Fibric Organic Cryosol (FI.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Of or Om, Of, Ofz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have organic layers thicker than 1 m.
  2. They are composed dominantly of fibric material in the control section below a depth of 40 cm.

Mesic Organic Cryosol (ME.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Of or Om, Om, Omz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have organic layers thicker than 1 m.
  2. They are composed dominantly of mesic material in the control section below a depth of 40 cm.

Humic Organic Cryosol (HU.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Om or Oh, Ohz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have organic layers thicker than 1 m.
  2. They are composed dominantly of humic material in the control section below a depth of 40 cm.

Terric Fibric Organic Cryosol (TFI.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Of, Ofz, Cz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have a mineral contact within 1 m of the surface, or the mineral layer is greater than 30 cm thick with an upper boundary within 1 m of the surface.
  2. They are composed dominantly of fibric material above the mineral contact.

Terric Mesic Organic Cryosol (TME.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Om, Omz, Cz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have a mineral contact within 1 m of the surface, or the mineral layer is greater than 30 cm thick with an upper boundary within 1 m of the surface.
  2. They are composed dominantly of mesic material above the mineral contact.

Terric Humic Organic Cryosol (THU.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Oh, Ohz, Cz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have a mineral contact within 1 m of the surface, or the mineral layer is greater than 30 cm thick with an upper boundary within 1 m of the surface.
  2. They are composed dominantly of humic material above the mineral contact.

Glacic Organic Cryosol (GC.OC)

Common horizon sequence: Of, Om or Oh, Wz

These Organic Cryosols are identified by the following properties:

  1. They have a layer of ground ice greater than 30 cm thick with an upper boundary within 1 m of the surface.
  2. The ice layer contains more than 95% ice by volume.

Note: Diagnostic horizons are underlined.

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