Geothermal soils

The geothermal areas on Mount Erebus create a variety of soil habitats. Abiotic factors – including water, sunlight, temperature, soil pH and topography – influence what lives in these habitats.

Tramway Ridge has hot soils, with temperatures reaching up to 65°C in places, and steaming fumaroles that produce gases such as CO₂ and water vapour. It is also protected from the wind, so the soils don’t dry out as quickly. These conditions support cyanobacterial mats and thick moss beds.

Western Crater is only 1 km away but its lack of fumaroles and more extreme exposure limits the microorganisms that live there.

Microbial communities often change as conditions change such as temperature gradients along and under the soil surface.

Photo by Paul Broady © Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection, 1982–1983.