Cryosolic Soil Pedons Across Northern Canada

Pedons represent Cryosolic soils affected by permafrost from across the Canadian Arctic, including locations from Baffin Island to the Yukon. The dataset contains detailed soil profile descriptions and laboratory analyses following Canadian soil survey standards. It was compiled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers, with a primary reference date of 1996.

Use Cases

• Analyzing permafrost depth and characteristics using identified 'z' horizons.
• Classifying soil types according to the Canadian System of Soil Classification based on profile descriptions.
• Studying cryoturbation effects by examining disrupted, mixed, or broken horizon data.
• Mapping the distribution of Static, Organic, and Turbic Cryosols across specific northern Canadian sites.

Strengths

• Data follows standardized Canadian field description and laboratory analysis manuals, ensuring methodological consistency.
• Provides a specific count of pedons from seven distinct geographic regions across the Canadian Arctic (e.g., 8 from Pangnirtung Pass).

Limitations

• The exact number of total rows/pedons is not explicitly stated, requiring summation from location counts.
• Platforms show conflicting 'last updated' dates (1996 vs. 2026), creating uncertainty about data currency.

Provenance

Source

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch (ECORC), compiled by Charles Tarnocai.

Collection Method

Field descriptions and laboratory analyses conducted according to official Canadian soil survey manuals.

Freshness

1996-12-31 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Canadian North, from Baffin Island in the east to the Mackenzie Valley and Yukon in the west, up to Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic.