Question

A woolly mammoth was found in 1999 buried in the frozen soil of the Siberian tundra. Carbon-14 dating indicated that it had died about 20,000 years ago. Many fossils represent only the partial remains of organisms. However, a complete mammoth with bones, skin, hair, and internal organs intact represented a unique opportunity for scientists to investigate the lifestyle of this animal and the environment in which it lived. The low permeability of the tundra soil helped to preserve the mammoth. Explain why the tundra soil has a low permeability.

Answer 1

Tundra soils are formed at high latitudes which leaves the tundra always very cold. Tundra soils are generally frozen, and are classifed as Gelisols (this means that permafrost are within 100 cm of the soil surface). These permafrost are as a result of the freezing by winter of the underground water that was accumulated in summer. These soils freeze and thaw alot and as result of that, moisture do not permeate the soil easily. Also, due to this harsh temperature and underground permafrost, most organisms that died in the tundra are preserved within the soil.