Elemental chemical characterization of soils from two ice-free sectors in southern Livingston Island (northern Antarctic Peninsula region)

Abstract

Some Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems are greatly affected by climate change, especially in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region which has had the greatest temperature increase in the last 60 years. This increase has been more pronounced since 2017 and has caused a retreat of many glaciers. The retreat has caused the generation of soils, which are subjected to environmental effects (radiation, wind, temperatures), animal actions (birds, mammals) and human activities, and which evolve to greater biological production and diversity. Preliminary data on the chemical composition of soils were collected on February 2022 from different areas of Hurd Peninsula and Hannah Point (southern Livingston Island). The percentage of major elements (%) such as Si, Fe, Ca, K, and Al or minoritary (ppm) Ti, Zr, Mn, Sr, P, and S can be used to group soils according to different natural conditions and impacts. Furthermore, type and distribution of vegetation can be an indicator of soil development.