closure of the contraction cracks. With Tom s death, port at McMurdo, it was not possible to visit all it was not possible to carry out this work. The cor- desirable locations, but this adversity was compen- relation of ground temperatures and maximum clos- sated for by the kindness of a number of colleagues ing is still subject to extrapolation, and correction who made available a series of soil samples, collected factors will have to be applied as in previous years. in these and similar places, for micromorphologic Nonetheless, it is hoped that reasonably accurate analysis. This development permitted expansion of growth rates over the past decade can be deter- the project to a general comparative study of micro- mined. morphology in antarctic soils. (Additional soil sam- In mid-January, Arthur A. Twomey, who had ples of different environments, genesis, or biology worked on this project during the two previous sea- would be gratefully accepted.) The soil samples sons, returned to close down the field stations. He from McMurdo Sound arrived only recently in Ham- calibrated the thermal recorders under field condi- burg, and have not been studied yet. However, a tions over the temperature range —50°C. to+20°C. general concept of the great variability of the micro- They were then removed and shipped to the U.S.A. morphology of antarctic soils was obtained using a for further calibration. In the latter part of January, field microscope. he also measured the growth of wedges at McMurdo In regard to the genesis of the polygenetic soils, and at Nussbaum Riegel in Taylor Valley. there is a great disadvantage in Antarctica as com- pared to the Arctic. The areas of Barrow, Umiat, Future plans necessitate the review and compila- and Cape Thompson had not—or only scarcely— tion of all of the thermal and contraction data col- been glaciated in the Pleistocene period. Thus, many lated by Berg. These data will provide information on the seasonal temperature changes in the active soil sediments which served as parent material for layer and the upper part of the permafrost, and on the present soils are found today in their original the seasonal moisture movements in the active layer. locations, some dating back even to the Cretaceous. They, in turn, will be correlated with local geology Their micromorphology corresponds to a great ex- and with the contraction data on growth rates of tent clearly to tropical or subtropical environmental the wedges during the lifetime of the project. The conditions at the time of their development as soils. sites will be left undisturbed for future checks of These highly dispersed sediments can also be recog- growth rates at five- or ten-year intervals. nized in the form of coatings around the un- weathered minerals of raw soils, or around the plant residues in peat areas moistened by muddy meltwater from nearby slopes. Their color—investigated with incident light—varied from bright yellow (stained by peptized amorphous iron hydroxide) to bright Micromorphologic Investigations red (caused by crystallized iron hydroxides pro- of Antarctic Soils duced by pseudogleyization). In south Victoria Land and other regions of Antarctica, a similar influence of silted-up fine elements of former soils, developed W. L. KUBIENA under humid subtropical or maybe even tropical conditions, can be recognized in the form of coatings Department of Soils around almost unweathered mineral grains of polar University of Hamburg raw soils. The investigation here becomes more com- (Schloss Reinbek) plicated because of the great influence of high glacial activity and repeated erosion and redisposition, ac- On the invitation of the National Science Foun- companied by intense mixing of highly weathered dation, the author was able to spend December and completely unweathered constituents. The mud 1969 at McMurdo Station. A program was carried coatings on the mineral grains are similar to those in out that was influenced by two results obtained pre- the Arctic but less regular, occurring partly in the viously in polar soils by micromorphologic investiga- form of intermittent deposits. They are more yellow tions of thin sections. The first was that remnants of than red in color, and more flocculated than pep- soil formations of former geological periods could tized. Their density decreases due to the decreasing be recognized and dated in soils of the Umiat region penetration of the melting waters in the profile. The of northern Alaska. The second was that thin sec- differences in micromorphology are caused by the tions of soils of the McMurdo region (sampled by much drier conditions in these environments. The Dr. H. Janetschek, Innsbruck) showed abundant intergranular spaces are wider, either completely slime deposits with complete absence of humus empty or filled with salt or calcium-carbonate pre- formation. cipitations. Their micromorphology is manifold, Because of a temporary scarcity of helicopter sup- including very original space-filling pseudomycelium-
July–August 1970 105 like needle accumulations through a number of hori- Mountains. Travelling by motor toboggans, the zons of the soil profile. party completed 225 km of electronic traverse, oc- Direct investigation of the slime-forming, primi- cupied 12 stations, and set 9 permanent bench tive, nonhumus-producing soil life in the semiterres- marks. This control will be sufficient for the com- trial soils under moss and algae vegetation (The pilation of approximately 16,800 km 2 of reconnais- Strand Moraines, Bowers Piedmont Glacier) could sance mapping at 1:250,000 scale. Early next sea- be performed by investigating drops of capillary son, this control will be extended into the Sweeney water, removed by micropipettes, under the micro- and Hauberg Mountains before commencing a sec- scope. With increasing temperature, the life develop- ond traverse northward from the Wetmore Glacier ment was surprisingly dense, showing extended astronomic station through the Hutton Mountains. myxobacteria colonies with abundant green algae, The general weather pattern of continuous white- diatoms, amoebae, flagellates, and flourishing ciliates outs and blowing snow during the 3-month season (mainly Colpoda steinii). Striking was also the high prevented the party from pursuing normal field op- development of bdelloid wheel animalcules, water- erations much of the time. If operations are delayed bears, and nematodes. The slime accumulations in next season by weather conditions, it may take four the soil spaces visible in the thin sections seem to years to establish the required control northward to have been produced mainly by the myxobacteria, the 73°S. parallel. but many forms also suggest the presence of mummi- Upon return to McMurdo Station, the party re- fied bodies of rotifers and tardigrades. On the whole. measured the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory s the slime formations indicate the most primitive kind strain net across the Ross Ice Shelf between Hut of soil life, comparable to the primeval slimes of Point and the Koettlitz Glacier. the Precambrian. A two-man party reobserved the astronomic posi- tions at both Byrd and South Pole Stations, estab- lished an elevation for the automatic-station tower at Byrd Station, obtained astronomic azimuths at Byrd and South Pole for the Coast and Geo&tic Survey s Topographic Mapping: geomagnetic observatories, took three solar azimuths Field Operations 1969-1970 along the Byrd strain net for The Ohio State Uni- versity, and set a post marking the current location of the South Geographic Pole. ROBERT H. LYDDAN Because of other priorities, no aerial photography U.S. Geological Survey for mapping was obtained this year, but about 18,000 km2 of reconnaissance photography was flown over portions of Coats Land and in the vicinity The U.S. Geological Survey assigned six engineers of Cape Colbeck on the Edward VII Peninsula. to the Antarctic for the 1969-1970 austral summer Several special-purpose, multidiscipline photo- to establish geodetic control and to support various graphic projects were flown. These missions included scientific projects. The Survey also assigned a co- black-and-white panchromatic and infrared photog- ordinator and photographic specialist to assist in the raphy for penguin and seal population censuses, geodetic program and to advise Antarctic Develop- medium- to large-scale coverage for geologic and ment Squadron Six (VXE-6) on visual navigational glaciologic research projects, and large-scale cover- and photographic procedures for obtaining mapping- age of the National Geodetic Satellite triangulation quality photography and other photographic cover- station at McMurdo (part of the Worldwide Geo- age for various scientific projects. He also evaluated metric Satellite Program) and of Specially Protected the aerial negatives to insure that they met Areas No. 5 (Beaufort Island) and 6 (Cape specifications. Crozier). Color photography was also obtained over Four engineers were part of an 8-man Geological several glaciers in Wright Valley as part of a glacio- Survey party that performed reconnaissance topo- logical project. Arrangements were made to have graphic and geologic surveys on the Lassiter Coast. over 1,800 prints made by the U.S. Navy photo- The topographic party established an astronomic graphic laboratory and delivered to field investi- position at its Wetmore Glacier campsite, which will gators. be the hub of the Survey s planned 3-year program Over 8,300 negatives were obtained with the tn- of investigations along the western coast of the Wed- camera system in the photoconfigured LC-130 used dell Sea. A glaciological strain net was established in the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) radio- across the Glacier to determine its rate of movement. echo sounding project. These negatives will be used The topographic party then traversed southward in a photogrammetric system to refine the aircraft s and established control in the Latady and Scaife navigational record.
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