Approaches to the Classification of Soils of the Accumulative Seashores of Russian Northeast

• Published in: Eurasian soil science 2022, Vol.55 (1), p.20-26
• Main Authors: Gubin, S. V., Lupachev, A. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allochthonous deposits; Analysis; Classification; Cryogenesis; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Embedding; Genesis and Geography of Soils; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Marshes; New order; New orders; Organic soils; Permafrost; Salinization; Seashores; Soil classification; Soil formation; Soil layers; Soil salinity; Soil salinization; Soils; Soils, Salts in; Waterlogged ground; Waterlogging
• ISSN: 1064-2293; 1556-195X
• DOI: 10.1134/S1064229322010057

— A specific group of diverse marsh soils forming on sea coasts in the permafrost zone is proposed to be included into the Russian soil classification system. These soils are affected both by cryogenic and sea processes. At present, there are several regional classifications of marsh soils forming in the European north and Far East of Russia and in northern Europe. We have developed a classification scheme for these soils at four higher taxonomic levels (from soil trunks to soil subtypes) of the Russian soil classification system using the data of soil studies on the accumulative seashores in the eastern sector of Russian Arctic. The studied soils are preliminary named as Thalassosols. According to the proposed scheme, they are categorized within three soil trunks, for which new orders are introduced. The order of initial marsh soils is suggested for the trunk of initial pedogenesis. In the trunk of organogenic soils, marsh soils can be separated at the type level within the newly proposed order of allochthonous organic soils. A new order of marsh soils is also suggested for the trunk of synlithogenic soils. Approaches to further subdivision of marsh soils at the lower (type and subtype) levels of the Russian soil classification system are discussed. A new symbol (؉) is suggested to single out the soil layers and horizons of synlithogenic marsh soils. Specific diagnostic features of the profiles of marsh soils in the permafrost zone are related to the shallow embedding by permafrost and to the activity of cryogenic processes; these soils also have specific features related to soil salinization on seashores against the background of the activity of cryogenesis and soil waterlogging.