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Properties and mineralogy of topsoil in the town of Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen, Norway)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 June 2019

Wojciech Szymański ,
Janusz Siwek ,
Michał Skiba ,
Bronisław Wojtuń ,
Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman ,
Paweł Pech ,
Ludmiła Polechońska  and
Aleksandra Smyrak-Sikora
Wojciech Szymański*
Affiliation:
Department of Pedology and Soil Geography, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Janusz Siwek
Affiliation:
Department of Hydrology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Michał Skiba
Affiliation:
Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, Institute of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Bronisław Wojtuń
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland
Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland
Paweł Pech
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland
Ludmiła Polechońska
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland
Aleksandra Smyrak-Sikora
Affiliation:
Department of Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway
*
Author for correspondence: Wojciech Szymański, Email: w.szymanski@uj.edu.pl
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Abstract

Soil is one of the most important constituents of an ecosystem, playing a crucial role in many environmental reactions and processes. Despite the fact that many environmental studies were conducted in the vicinity of Longyearbyen, very little is known about the physical and chemical properties as well as mineralogy of soils occurring in this town. Thus, the main aims of this study were: (1) to determine the texture, chemical properties and mineralogy of the topsoil horizons of urban soils occurring in the Longyearbyen area (Spitsbergen, Norway); and (2) to determine and explain their spatial distribution within the area of Longyearbyen. In general, the topsoils are characterised by loamy texture; acidic reaction; quite high content of total organic carbon (TOC); high content of Si, Al and Fe; and low content of K, Na, Ca, Mg and P. Quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, mica and chlorite are the prevailing minerals. Differences in the concentration of TOC, total nitrogen and elements in the topsoils are mainly related to the diversity of texture and mineralogy of the local parent material and the development of vegetation cover. The results indicate that topsoils in Longyearbyen are characterised by the natural properties and are not strongly transformed by human activity. However, pollution of soil with trace elements related to coal mining should be checked.

Keywords

ArcticGeochemistryLongyearbyenSvalbardTopsoil
Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , March 2019 , pp. 102 - 114
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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