Effects of Periglacial Processes On Soil Formation in Subarctic Alaska.

The Steese Mountains of Alaska are located approximately 100 km  northeast of Fairbanks and stretch northeast about 60 km.  The elevation ranges from 300 -1200 m. During the initial soil surveys of the area a close relationship between the periglacial features and vegetation communities was noted along a toposequence.  The summit is dominated by sorted circles stone (circles) with bare to sparse shrub cover. The nearly rounded stone circle becomes elongated on the shoulder slopes with shrub/tundra vegetation cover. The stone circles developed into stripes on the upper and mid-back slopes with forest tundra cover. Slope movement erased most stripes on the lower back slopes and toe slopes where black spruce dominates. The summits are usually too fragmental to maintain permafrost thus Haplogelepts formed in this landfom. Permafrost is common on shoulder and back slopes thus Ruptic-Histic Aquiturbels developed on mid to upper back slopes and Histic Aquiturbels developed on lower back slopes. The periglacial processes resulted in unique patterned grounds and highly cryoturbated soils in the alpine environment of Steese Mountains.