Grant F. Walton (1924-1988)

Grant F. Walton, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University, died on August 4, 1988. ... While pursuing his Ph.D. degree at Rutgers University he wrote his thesis on soils of the High Arctic. Accordingly, he made studies in Alaska, Prince Patrick Island, Bathurst Island, Cornwallis Island, Banks Island, Baffin Island, the Hudson Bay area, northern Greenland and Siberia. His Ph.D. thesis was a comprehensive (480 pages) circumpolar treatment of soil zonation and soil geography in the High Arctic. He was particularly interested in the effect of glaciation and isostatic rebound on the soil pattern. It became evident to the university during the late 1960s and early 1970s that Dr. Walton also had considerable organizational and administrative talents. [He served as dean of Cook College and director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, a dual post he held for eight years.] ... When he retired in 1987 he held the title of Professor II (Distinguished Professor). ..

Some Quaternary Events of Northern Alaska

Reports that radiocarbon dating of an organic deposit in a glacial terrace on the upper Killik River (68 N, 154 W) containing well-preserved alder and willow necessitates acceptance of a climate 5650 ± 230 BP as warm or warmer than the present

An Arctic Equivalent of the Grumusol

Describes soils near Umiat, Alaska: the gilgai micro- microrelief, sparse vegetation, and the desiccation cracks of considerable depth and width underlying a surface mulch of mineral soil aggregates. At depth, the soils grade into a thick structureless viscous clay which overlies permafrost. The formation of this soil involves processes which operate where soil materials are high in expanding lattice clays of the montmorillonite group. Freezing and evaporation cause desiccation. Thus the genesis of this arctic soil is almost identical with that of grumosols of temperate and warm climates. Soil profiles and tabulated chemical and physical data are included.Un Équivalent arctique du Grumusol. Il existe dans le nord de l'Alaska un équivalent arctique du grumusol. Riche en montmorillonites, il présente un micro-relief en "gilgai" et une surface minérale plutôt dure. Si l'on considère que le gel est essentiellement un processus de dessication qui agit au moins une fois par an dans ces sites, où l'évaporation est plus importante que la précipitation, la genèse de ce sol paraît semblable à celle des grumusols des climats chauds et tempérés. Les auteurs présentent des données chimiques et physiques

Arctic Soil Classification and Patterned Ground

Discusses relationships between soils and patterned ground, observed in northern Alaska; and suggests a classification descriptive of both. Such is desirable because of the extent to which frost action and the microrelief of patterned ground influence soil morphology in arctic areas. Specific ground patterns often occur with particular genetic soils. The patterned-ground classification by A.L. Washburn (No. 48863) with minor revisions, could be integrated with that of the soil types

Concepts of Soil Formation and Classification in Arctic Regions

Discusses, on basis of studies in northern Alaska, soil forming processes in arctic regions and considers the relation between vegetation and soils and problems of classification and mapping. Tundra soils are poorly drained, mineral in nature, and underlain by permafrost at depths of 1-2 ft Arctic brown soils form under free drainage, are mineral in character, and confined to ridges, terrace edges, and stabilized dunes. The active layer in such soils is usually deep. Downslope movement and frost action tend to disrupt any orderly morphology in both wet and well-drained sites. Moisture conditions in arctic soils exert a marked selective influence on vegetation.--from SIPRE