CALM SITEKotlik |
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Site Code |
U42 |
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Site Name |
Kotlik |
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CAPS 1 Metadata form |
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CAPS 2 Metadata form |
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Responsible for data submission |
Edda Mutter |
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Email Address |
emutter@yritwc.org |
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Institution/Organization |
YRITWC |
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Location Description |
Alaska Subarctic |
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Location Lat. |
N63.02131 |
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Location Long. |
W163.5607 |
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Elevation avg. (m) |
0 |
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Methods Grid |
50 |
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Methods Other |
Soil moisture, soil temp., air temp |
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Landscape Description |
river delta |
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Vegetation/Classification |
moss, tundra, willow, lichen, small “shrubs”, berries |
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Soils (or Material) |
dark organic |
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Thaw depth measurements (year started) |
2009 |
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Air temp. measurements (year started) |
2009 |
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Snow Cover measurements (year started) |
N/A |
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Soil temp. measurements (start year) |
2009 |
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Soil moisture measurements (start year) |
2009 |
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General description of soil moisture |
moist |
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Soil texture: if non organic describe texture, if organic indicate thickness of organic layer (cm) |
organic layer thickness ~ 32cm |
DESCRIPTION OF AREA
CONTAINING SITE:
The Kotlik site is located along the Kotlik Slough, in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, approximately 250° West of Kotlik cemetery. The 50m2 grid is in a moderately well drained area of open flat tundra. Some willows are spread across the surrounding area, however none fall w/in the grid site. Two sample points are in standing water. The 50mx50m grid, established in 2009, is marked with survey stakes at 10m intervals. The grid center (N63.02, W163.56) contains continuous soil temperature & soil moisture sensors at ‘above permafrost’ & ‘just below surface’ levels. An air temperature sensor also records on a 30 min continuous cycle. The grid was established in 2009 through a cooperative agreement with Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council & the U.S. Geological Survey, with assistance from Kotlik Tribal Council’s Environmental Coordinator.
SOIL DESCRIPTION:
Predominately characterized by dark organic
soils. The soil is non-rocky and moderately
well drained. The soil profile is 5cm
moss, 10cm root layer, 32cm organic layer.
SAMPLING DESIGN AND
METHOD:
The specific location of the Kotlik site was selected using Traditional Ecological Knowledge of permafrost distribution and depth, followed by on-site ground truthing.
The grid consisted of 50 survey stakes at 10-meter intervals, creating a 50mx50m square grid with a maximum of 100 data points. Active Layer measurements were taken manually every 5m. The measurements were taken at the lowest surface level within about 0.3m of the designated point, to minimize the questionable influence of tussocks on the AL measurement. The "surface level" was determined to be the top of the low-lying vegetation (i.e. moss, lichen, low-bush berries). Thaw measurements greater than 1m were noted, but not used in calculations, as of 2009.
[CALM protocol suggests a grid size of 100mx100m, however a 50m2 grid was deemed acceptable due to difficult terrain and length of time for installation (personal communication Dr. V.Romanovsky).]
The soil climate station was established in early September 2009 and is located at grid center. The station monitors air temperature, soil temperature & soil moisture.
The HOBO micro station was installed at the grid center. A ~30cm4 hole was dug down to the permafrost layer at 44cm. One set of soil moisture and soil temperature sensors were placed just above the permafrost layer and one set just below surface level. Soil samples were cut from 42cm and 6cm (2x2in cubes) to be analyzed for soil moisture content.
The HOBO pro v2 temp/ext temp sensor was installed, recording air temperature, near the grid center about one meter off the ground surface. The Hobo data logger is set to store data on 30min intervals for up to 428 days.
GPS points were taken at the four corners of the grid, as well as the center point where the sensors were located. Site elevation is 0m, recorded at grid center.
REFERENCES:
