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A subaqueous soil‐landscape conceptual model to guide soil survey in Chesapeake Bay subestuaries
Author(s) -
Wessel Barret M.,
Rabenhorst Martin C.,
Needelman Brian A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.1002/saj2.20305
Subject(s) - landform , soil survey , geology , soil water , shore , hydrology (agriculture) , bay , chesapeake bay , soil series , soil map , usda soil taxonomy , soil classification , soil science , estuary , geomorphology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering
RhodeRiver, a subestuary on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, contains a diverse array of subaqueous soils that range from submerged paleosols to fine‐textured fluid soils and organic soils. A subaqueous soil survey was completed for the Rhode River subestuary by collecting bathymetric data, delineating landforms, and sampling and describing soils across the submerged landscape. Soil map units were developed by correlating soil properties and taxonomic classification with delineated landforms, resulting in the development of seven proposed soil series corresponding to new soil map units. Geologic maps and other supporting information about the dominant factors of soil formation in this landscape were used with the soil survey of Rhode River to develop a conceptual subaqueous soil‐landscape model of soil genesis to explain the origin and distribution of soils in Rhode River. This is the first time that a subaqueous soil‐landscape model has been developed for the flooded river valley geomorphic setting of Chesapeake Bay, and it will assist subaqueous soil surveys in other western shore Chesapeake Bay subestuaries and similar environmental settings where upland environments have been or are currently submerging.