GEOCHANGES, Land surface covers within ice-free areas of the South Shetland Islands, 2022

These analyses include the following parameters: colour, structure, coarse fraction, texture, pH, electric conductivity, organic matter, free iron oxides and elemental analysis (C, H, N, S) and soil respiration. In the case of some selected soil surfaces and profiles, mineralogical analysis by means of X-Ray powder diffraction, soil respiration and microbial biodiversity are determined. For vegetation and clast covered surfaces, percentages of coverage were estimated.

Surface water samples were obtained in different streams and lakes of the ice-free areas to determine the chemical composition (major, minor and trace components), heavy metals as well as stable isotopes oxygen-18 and deuterium and lead. Surface hydrology included a survey of stream profiles on Byers Peninsula in order to carry out geomorphological and relief evolution studies. A spectral library called the Northern Antarctic Peninsula region SPECtral library (NAPSPEC) is being compiled from the different sites.

Field and laboratory spectra within the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared ranges (350 to 2450 nm) were obtained for different surface covers surface covers related to periglacial and glacial landforms and deposits. Furthermore, laboratory spectra are also obtained from soil and sediment samples and included in the spectral library.