Cumulative impacts and rates of recovery of the Antarctic soil environment at Scott Base and vicinity, Crater Hill, Observation Hill and Capes Evans and Royds

Soil profile descriptions from the vicinity of Scott Base and McMurdo Station, including Crater Hill, Observation Hill, Cape Evans, Marble Point, Cape Roberts, and Lake Vanda and vicinity in the Wright Valley, were also carried out in the 2009-2010 field season. 104 soil samples and complementary microbial subsamples were taken.

The data collected from both seasons includes: GPS location, colour, texture, evidence of salts, weathering stage, depth to ice-cemented permafrost, parent material and landform following USDA Soil Taxonomy classification. All profiles were sampled for bulk density and water content in the field, and for chemical (pH, EC, 1:5 extract for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, NO3, SO4) and particle-size analyses. Soil disturbance by foot traffic was assessed at 36 sites in the 2008/2009 season and at 49 sites in the 2009/2010 season (using McLeod, in press).