MORPHOGENETIC DIAGNOSTICS AND CLASSIFICATION OF TIDAL MARSH SOILS IN KARELIA (WHITE SEA COAST)

Natural factors determining the specifics of soil formation along the White Sea coast-marine geomorphologic processes, local hydrology and h ydromorphism, chemical composition of the sea water, microclimatic pec uliarities, and biological specifics of the territory-are discussed. T he most typical soil profiles are characterized as ''model objects'' r epresenting the morphology of regional soil cover. This serves as a ba sis for developing the criteria for detailed classification of tidal m arsh soils and providing the soils of lower taxonomic levels with comp lete names. The specifics of regional soils are discussed and the diff erences between the suggested classification and existing ones are out lined.