ABSTRACT: Identification, characterization, and hydrological implications of water repellency in mountain soils. southern British Columbia

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Abstract

The physicochemical properties of soils, which determine how readily the soils wet, were shown to vary significantly in mountain soils collected at six sites in southern British Columbia, even within individual profiles. The results of water drop penetration time were used to classify samples using a very simple scheme which is based upon the current understanding of the possible physicochemical interactions between soil surfaces, water, and soil air. In all cases where the samples were collected at sites in the subalpine-alpine ecotone, a layer which either wets reluctantly or is water-repellant exists at or near the surface of the profile. These layers occur only where there is evidence for accumulation of organic matter, and are usually no more than a few centimeters thick. At the one site which was below the alpine-subalpine ecotone, the soils wet readily throughout the profile. These results suggest that the type of organic matter which accumulates in soils of the alpine-subalpine ecotone of southern British Columbia either limits the affinity of soils for water or renders the soil water-repellant.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology