HUMIC COMPOUNDS OBTAINED FROM ANTARCTIC SOILS POOR IN ORGANIC-MATTER

Only fulvic acids (FA) have been isolated from soil samples collected in Antarctic zones poor in organic matter they have been structurally characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR and C-13-NMR spectro metry. Results obtained show that these FA are different from those ob tained from Antarctic soils sampled in zones rich in organic matter. H owever, many similarities with marine and lacustrine, water soluble hu mic compounds have been observed. Some characteristic bands in the spe ctra of the FA studied are common to fulvic acids isolated from snow s amples. Results obtained show that the origin of FA from Antarctic soi ls poor in organic matter may be ascribed to a ''via marine aerosol'' transport process rather than to the decomposition of organic matter t ransported by the wind.