Soil Development on the Recessional Moraines of the Herbert and Mendenhall Glaciers, South-Eastern Alaska

The development of a number of soil properties in relation to vegetation succession and as a function of age has been investigated on the recessional moraines of the Herbert and Mendenhall glaciers in south-eastern Alaska. Although the two natural systems are very similar, variations in their properties, when expressed as a function of surface age, do occur, and these are related to variations in the constellations of soil-forming factors. Data are presented both on the rate of total nitrogen and organic carbon accumulation, and their distribution within the profile. Nitrogen accumulates at a rate of about 36 lb./acre/annum (40 kg./ha./annum). Other properties investigated include reaction (pH), bulk density, certain moisture characteristics and properties of the forest floor. Although differences in magnitude occur, the main trends in these properties with time, closely parallel those already reported for Glacier Bay. This is to be expected in view of the similarities of the systems.