GEOGRAPHY OF ARCTIC SOILS - CURRENT PROBLEMS

Traditional and modem concepts of the geography of arctic soils are an alyzed, and recently obtained soil data are discussed. A new approach to the interpretation of climatic and geogenic (parent materials and r elief) factors of pedogenesis is elucidated. The new concept of the zo nation of arctic soils is suggested. The same set of pedogenic process es is observed throughout the whole territory of the Arctic; the clima te of this region is generally humid. However, a sharp increase in mes o-and microclimatic diversity at high latitudes dictated by geogenetic factors leads to the substantial divergence of soils including the ap pearance of arid phenomena. One of the possible integral zonal/subzona l divisions of the polar territories is proposed.