Soil Data Explorer - ALTON

Official Series Description

Lab Data Summary

Aggregate lab data for the ALTON soil series. This aggregation is based on all pedons with a current taxon name of ALTON, and applied along 1-cm thick depth slices. Solid lines are the slice-wise median, bounded on either side by the interval defined by the slice-wise 5th and 95th percentiles. The median is the value that splits the data in half. Five percent of the data are less than the 5th percentile, and five percent of the data are greater than the 95th percentile. Values along the right hand side y-axis describe the proportion of pedon data that contribute to aggregate values at this depth. For example, a value of "90%" at 25cm means that 90% of the pedons correlated to ALTON were used in the calculation. Source: KSSL snapshot (updated 2020-03-18). Methods used to assemble the KSSL snapshot used by SoilWeb / SDE

There are insufficient data to create the lab data summary figure.

Water Balance

Monthly water balance estimated using a leaky-bucket style model for the ALTON soil series. Monthly precipitation (PPT) and potential evapotranspiration (PET) have been estimated from the 50th percentile of gridded values (PRISM 1981-2010) overlapping with the extent of SSURGO map units containing each series as a major component. Monthly PET values were estimated using the method of Thornthwaite (1948). These (and other) climatic parameters are calculated with each SSURGO refresh and provided by the fetchOSD function of the soilDB package. Representative water storage values (“AWC” in the figures) were derived from SSURGO by taking the 50th percentile of profile-total water storage (sum[awc_r * horizon thickness]) for each soil series. Note that this representation of “water storage” is based on the average ability of most plants to extract soil water between 15 bar (“permanent wilting point”) and 1/3 bar (“field capacity”) matric potential. Soil moisture state can be roughly interpreted as “dry” when storage is depleted, “moist” when storage is between 0mm and AWC, and “wet” when there is a surplus. Clearly there are a lot of assumptions baked into this kind of monthly water balance. This is still a work in progress.

Sibling Summary

Siblings are those soil series that occur together in map units, in this case with the ALTON series. Sketches are arranged according to their subgroup-level taxonomic structure. Source: SSURGO snapshot (updated 2024-02-21), parsed OSD records (updated 2023-10-06) and snapshot of SC database (updated 2023-10-02).

Select annual climate data summaries for the ALTON series and siblings. Series are sorted according to hierarchical clustering of median values. Source: SSURGO map unit geometry and 1981-2010, 800m PRISM data (updated 2023-10-09).

Geomorphic description summaries for the ALTON series and siblings. Series are sorted according to hierarchical clustering of proportions and relative hydrologic position within an idealized landform (e.g. top to bottom). Most soil series (SSURGO components) are associated with a hillslope position and one or more landform-specific positions: hills, mountain slopes, terraces, and/or flats. Proportions can be interpreted as an aggregate representation of geomorphic membership. The values printed to the left (number of component records) and right (Shannon entropy) of stacked bars can be used to judge the reliability of trends. Small Shannon entropy values suggest relatively consistent geomorphic association, while larger values suggest lack thereof. Source: SSURGO component records (updated 2023-10-04).

Competing Series

Soil series competing with ALTON share the same family level classification in Soil Taxonomy. Source: parsed OSD records (updated 2023-10-06) and snapshot of the SC database (updated 2023-10-02).

Select annual climate data summaries for the ALTON series and competing. Series are sorted according to hierarchical clustering of median values. Source: SSURGO map unit geometry and 1981-2010, 800m PRISM data (updated 2023-10-09).

Geomorphic description summaries for the ALTON series and competing. Series are sorted according to hierarchical clustering of proportions and relative hydrologic position within an idealized landform (e.g. top to bottom). Proportions can be interpreted as an aggregate representation of geomorphic membership. Most soil series (SSURGO components) are associated with a hillslope position and one or more landform-specific positions: hills, mountain slopes, terraces, and/or flats. The values printed to the left (number of component records) and right (Shannon entropy) of stacked bars can be used to judge the reliability of trends. Shannon entropy values close to 0 represent soil series with relatively consistent geomorphic association, while values close to 1 suggest lack thereof. Source: SSURGO component records (updated 2023-10-04).

There are insufficient data to create the 3D mountains figure.

There are insufficient data to create the 3D flats position figure.

Soil series sharing subgroup-level classification with ALTON, arranged according to family differentiae. Hovering over a series name will print full classification and a small sketch from the OSD. Source: snapshot of SC database (updated 2023-10-02).

Block Diagrams

Click a link below to display the diagram. Note that these diagrams may be from multiple survey areas.

1. PA-2012-03-12-25 | Bradford and Sullivan Counties - August 1986

   Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Alton-Pope-Chenango map unit (Soil Survey of Bradford and Sullivan Counties, PA; 1986).

2. PA-2012-03-12-27 | Bucks and Philadelphia Counties - July 1975

   Typical pattern of soils and underlying material in the Urban land-Howell soil association (Soil Survey of Bucks and Philadelphia Counties County, PA; 1975).

3. PA-2012-03-12-31 | Bucks and Philadelphia Counties - July 1975

   Typical pattern of soils and underlying material in the Alton-Pope soil association and the adjacent Penn-Klinesville association (Soil Survey of Bucks and Philadelphia Counties County, PA; 1975).

4. PA-2012-03-14-26 | Venango County - December 1975

   Pattern of soils and underlying material in Alton-Monongahela-Philo association (Soil Survey of Venango County, PA; 1975).

Map Units

Map units containing ALTON as a major component. Limited to 250 records.

Map Unit Name	Symbol	Map Unit Area (ac)	Map Unit Key	National Map Unit Symbol	Soil Survey Area	Publication Date	Map Scale
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AnB	2599	289347	9q2s	ny011	1968	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AnC	1424	289348	9q2t	ny011	1968	1:15840
Alton and Howard soils, 15 to 25 percent slopes	AoD	1096	289349	9q2v	ny011	1968	1:15840
Palmyra, Howard, and Alton soils, 25 to 40 percent slopes	PnE	1092	289480	9q72	ny011	1968	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AnA	843	289346	9q2r	ny011	1968	1:15840
Alton cobbly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AmA	825	289344	9q2p	ny011	1968	1:15840
Alton cobbly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AmB	595	289345	9q2q	ny011	1968	1:15840
Alton fine gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AmB	2625	290735	9rjk	ny029	1979	1:15840
Alton fine gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AmA	2326	290734	9rjj	ny029	1979	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, silty substratum, 3 to 8 percent s lopes	AnB	735	290737	9rjm	ny029	1979	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, silty substratum, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AnC	548	290738	9rjn	ny029	1979	1:15840
Alton fine gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AmC	537	290736	9rjl	ny029	1979	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	201B	386	291493	9sb0	ny035	2007	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	201C	289	291494	9sb1	ny035	2007	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes	201D	211	1382443	1hdjy	ny035	2007	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AlB	1582	291758	9slk	ny045	1981	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes	AlD	730	291760	9slm	ny045	1981	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AlC	676	291759	9sll	ny045	1981	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 25 to 45 percent slopes	AlE	260	291761	9sln	ny045	1981	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AlA	202	291757	9slj	ny045	1981	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AnB	2928	292659	9tjm	ny055	1967	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AoB	1646	292660	9tjn	ny055	1967	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AnA	956	292658	9tjl	ny055	1967	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AoC	492	292661	9tjp	ny055	1967	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AlB	391	292778	9tng	ny057	1973	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	350B	12938	293404	9v9n	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	350A	7779	293403	9v9m	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton-Urban land complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes	33A	4778	293399	9v9h	ny065	1993	1:24000
Howard and Alton gravelly loams, 25 to 45 percent slopes	34E	3406	293402	9v9l	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	350C	3277	293405	9v9p	ny065	1993	1:24000
Howard and Alton gravelly loams, 15 to 25 percent slopes	34D	3252	293401	9v9k	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton-Urban land complex, 3 to 8 percent slopes	33B	1391	293400	9v9j	ny065	1993	1:24000
Howard and Alton gravelly loams, 25 to 45 percent slopes, cool	802E	845	1459512	1kzr1	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, cool	801B	528	1460171	1l0f9	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, cool	801C	514	1460173	1l0fc	ny065	1993	1:24000
Howard and Alton gravelly loams, 15 to 25 percent slopes, cool	802D	316	1459510	1kzqz	ny065	1993	1:24000
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AlB	1558	293516	9vf8	ny067	1973	1:20000
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AlA	1047	293515	9vf7	ny067	1973	1:20000
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, rolling	AlC	532	293517	9vf9	ny067	1973	1:20000
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AlB	2829	293994	9vxp	ny073	1973	1:15840
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AgB	10647	294089	9w0r	ny075	1973	1:15840
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AgA	3950	294088	9w0q	ny075	1973	1:15840
Alton gravelly silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AoB	1936	294092	9w0v	ny075	1973	1:15840
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, rolling	AgC	1685	294090	9w0s	ny075	1973	1:15840
Alton cobbly silt loam, rolling	AkC	383	294091	9w0t	ny075	1973	1:15840
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, undulating	AlB	5256	294783	9wr4	ny101	1972	1:15840
Alton gravelly fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AlA	4142	294782	9wr3	ny101	1972	1:15840
Howard and Alton gravelly soils, 20 to 30 percent slopes	HtD	3809	294818	9ws8	ny101	1972	1:15840
Howard and Alton gravelly soils, 30 to 45 percent slopes	HtE	3438	294819	9ws9	ny101	1972	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AgB	5528	295695	9xpk	ny117	1972	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AgA	2582	295694	9xpj	ny117	1972	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AgC	1414	295696	9xpl	ny117	1972	1:15840
Alton cobbly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AlA	1090	295698	9xpn	ny117	1972	1:15840
Alton cobbly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AlB	646	295699	9xpp	ny117	1972	1:15840
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes	AgD	489	295697	9xpm	ny117	1972	1:15840
Palmyra and Alton soils, steep	PLE	470	295769	9xry	ny117	1972	1:15840
Alton fine gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AmA	376	289226	9pyw	ny605	1981	1:24000
Alton fine gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AmC	156	289228	9pyy	ny605	1981	1:24000
Alton fine gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AmB	156	289227	9pyx	ny605	1981	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AlA	2239	543591	l7n6	pa017	1997	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AlB	336	543592	l7n7	pa017	1997	1:24000
Alton gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AgA	8	1479507	1lnk1	pa101	1971	1:15840
Alton gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes	AhC	1779	538891	l2rl	pa121	1971	1:20000
Alton gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes	AhB	1744	538890	l2rk	pa121	1971	1:20000
Alton gravelly loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes	AhD	719	538892	l2rm	pa121	1971	1:20000
Alton gravelly loam, 25 to 80 percent slopes	AhF	456	538893	l2rn	pa121	1971	1:20000
Alton gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes	AhA	351	538889	l2rj	pa121	1971	1:20000
Alton gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes	AgB	8407	296744	9ysd	pa610	1978	1:20000

Map of Series Extent

Approximate geographic distribution of the ALTON soil series. To learn more about how this distribution was mapped, or to compare this soil series extent to others, use the Series Extent Explorer (SEE) application. Source: generalization of SSURGO geometry (updated 2023-10-04).