Mesa Verde National Park

Location:Colorado, United States
IUCN Category:II
Area:40,098 acres (16,227 hectares)
Species:All  Endangered  Invasive
Website:View website
Climate:View Climate Data
Land Use:View Land Use Data
Köppen climate classification:Dsb (Climate: snow; Precipitation: summer dry; Temperature: warm summer)

Ecoregions

Colorado Plateau shrublands

Soils

Protected Area Boundary
 A
  
Share50 %20 %20 %10 %
Soil TypeEutric RegosolsCalcaric RegosolsHaplic ChernozemsLuvic Chernozems
Topsoil TextureMediumMediumMediumMedium
Reference Depth100 cm100 cm100 cm100 cm
DrainageImperfectlyModerately wellModerately wellModerately well
Available Water Capacity50 m150 m150 m150 m
Phase 1Lithic   
Topsoil Properties
Gravel27 %17 %4 %4 %
Sand47 %43 %22 %33 %
Silt34 %35 %54 %41 %
Clay19 %22 %24 %26 %
USDA TextureLoamLoamSilt loamLoam
Reference Bulk Density1.43 g/cm³1.4 g/cm³1.35 g/cm³1.36 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.21 g/cm³1.4 g/cm³1.2 g/cm³1.22 g/cm³
Organic Carbon0.97 %0.77 %2.08 %1.74 %
PH6.4877
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity41 cmol kg⁻¹40 cmol kg⁻¹67 cmol kg⁻¹69 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity12 cmol kg⁻¹17 cmol kg⁻¹23 cmol kg⁻¹21 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation79 %100 %100 %100 %
Total Exchangeable Bases15.1 cmol kg⁻¹31.1 cmol kg⁻¹18.6 cmol kg⁻¹33.3 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate0 %15 %0.3 %3.7 %
Calcium Sulphate0 %0 %0 %0 %
Exchangeable Sodium1 %2 %1 %1 %
Electrical Conductivity0.1 dS m-10.3 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-1
Subsoil Properties
Gravel28 %18 %20 %16 %
Sand50 %38 %26 %33 %
Silt32 %36 %52 %37 %
Clay18 %26 %22 %30 %
USDA TextureLoamLoamSilt loamClay loam
Reference Bulk Density1.44 g/cm³1.36 g/cm³1.37 g/cm³1.33 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.46 g/cm³1.52 g/cm³1.36 g/cm³1.36 g/cm³
Organic Carbon0.4 %0.53 %0.89 %0.78 %
PH6.98.17.47.6
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity55 cmol kg⁻¹50 cmol kg⁻¹72 cmol kg⁻¹65 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity11 cmol kg⁻¹15 cmol kg⁻¹17 cmol kg⁻¹21 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation85 %100 %100 %100 %
Total Exchangeable Bases10.3 cmol kg⁻¹41.1 cmol kg⁻¹16.1 cmol kg⁻¹30.5 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate0.1 %15 %6.8 %8.9 %
Calcium Sulphate0 %0 %0 %0 %
Exchangeable Sodium2 %1 %3 %2 %
Electrical Conductivity0.1 dS m-10.3 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-1
Soil data provided by FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.
Köppen climate classification provided by Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263