LOCATION AIRSHIP CA
Established Series
WRR/KP
06/2011
AIRSHIP SERIES
The Airship series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. Airship soils are on steep hills that are remnant terraces. Slopes range from 30 to 65 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 24 inches (610 mm), and the mean annual temperature is about 60 degrees F (16 degrees C).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haploxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Airship sandy loam, on a south facing 65 percent slope under a cover of brush at an elevation of 308 meters. When described the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 4 inches, (0 to 9 cm); brown (10YR 4/3) broken face very gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face moist; 17 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 5 percent well rounded indurated 75 to 254 millimeter mixed rock fragments and 40 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 6.8 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 18 centimeters thick)
A2--4 to 7 inches, (9 to 17 cm); brown (10YR 4/3) broken face extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face moist; 15 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 5 percent rounded indurated 75 to 254 millimeter mixed rock fragments and 50 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 7.1 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 8 centimeters thick)
Bw1--7 to 15 inches, (17 to 38 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face very gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 15 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 40 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 7.1 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (21 to 32 centimeters thick)
Bw2--15 to 17 inches, (38 to 44 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 13 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; many very fine interstitial pores; 60 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 7.2 by pH meter 1:1 water; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 6 centimeters thick)
C1--17 to 30 inches, (44 to 75 cm); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) broken face extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 8 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; many very fine interstitial pores; 70 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 7.2 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (12 to 50 centimeters thick)
C2--30 to 35 inches, (75 to 90 cm); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) broken face extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 8 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; many very fine interstitial pores; 65 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; slightly alkaline, pH 7.4 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary. (15 to 47 centimeters thick)
C3--35 to 43 inches, (90 to 110 cm); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) broken face extremely gravelly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) broken face moist; 8 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; many very fine interstitial pores; 60 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; very slight effervescence, by HCl, 1 normal; slightly alkaline, pH 7.4 by pH meter 1:1 water; abrupt smooth boundary. (20 to 30 centimeters thick)
C4--43 to 59 inches, (110 to 150 cm); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) broken face extremely gravelly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) broken face moist; 8 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; many very fine interstitial pores; 55 percent well rounded indurated 2 to 75 millimeter mixed rock fragments; slightly alkaline, pH 7.4 by pH meter 1:1 water;
TYPE LOCATION: Santa Clara County, California, Fremont Older Open Space, Cupertino, on Coyote Ridge near intersection of Coyote Ridge Road and road heading east to entrance on Prospect Road, on steep southwest back slope about 100 feet below road., Section 26, Township 7s, Range 2w, UTM Zone 10, 4127216 Northing, 582811 Easting, NAD83 - U.S.G.S Quad: Cupertino, California.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 60 to 64 degrees F. The particle size control section averages 10 to 20 percent clay, 35 to 65 percent rock fragments, mostly gravel with about 5 percent cobble. Mineralogy is mixed. The soil is not calcareous. Organic matter ranges from 0.5 to 1 percent to a depth of 9 centimeters. Rock fragments on the surface range from 5 to 10 percent gravel.
The A horizon dry color is 10YR 5/3, 4/3 or 4/2. Moist color is 10YR 3/3 or 3/2. Texture is sandy loam or fine sandy loam, gravelly to very gravelly. Clay content ranges from 10 to 18 percent. Rock fragments range from 15 to 50 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles. Reaction ranges from 6.6 to 7.8.
The Bw horizon dry color is 10YR 5/4 or 2.5Y 5/4. Moist color is 10YR 4/4 or 2.5Y 4/4. Texture is sandy loam or sandy clay loam, very gravelly to extremely gravelly. Clay content ranges from 12 to 20 percent. Rock fragments range from 35 to 65 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles. Reaction ranges from 6.6 to 7.8.
The C horizon dry color is 10YR 6/6, 6/4, 5/4 or 2.5Y 5/4. Moist color is 10YR 5/6, 4/4, 4/3 or 2.5Y4/4. Texture is sandy loam, very to extremely gravelly. Clay content ranges from 8 to 19 percent. Rock fragments range from 55 to 70 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles. Reaction ranges from 6.6 to 7.8.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Brockgulch,
Chalone and
Modjeska soils. Brockgulch soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact of metavolcanic rocks. Chalone soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact of acidic volcanic breccia. Modjeska soils have 5YR and 7.5YR B horizon colors.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Airship soils are on steep hills that are remnant terraces. Slopes are 30 to 65 percent. These soils formed in alluvium weathered from mixed rock sources. Elevation is 800 to 1033 feet (244 to 315 meters). Mean annual precipitation is 22 to 26 inches (560 to 660 mm) . The mean annual temperature is 60 to 64 degrees F (16 to 18 C). Frost free season is 275 to 325 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Merbeth,
Literr and
Minlum soils. The Merbeth and Literr soils have fine textural control sections, and the Minlum soils have fine loamy textural control sections.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat and watershed. Vegetation is brush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The soils are inextensive and are mapped in Santa Clara county. Major Land Resource Area: 15 -- Central California Coast Range
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Santa Clara County, California, 2011. Source of name from flight history at Moffett Field.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric Epipedon: 0 to 17 cm
The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about June 15 to October 15 (about 120 days).
User Pedon ID: 07ca085641434
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.