Soil Data Explorer - OPAL

Official Series Description

Lab Data Summary

Aggregate lab data for the OPAL soil series. This aggregation is based on all pedons with a current taxon name of OPAL, 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 OPAL were used in the calculation. Source: KSSL snapshot (updated 2020-03-13). Methods used to assemble the KSSL snapshot used by SoilWeb / SDE

Pedons used in the lab summary:

MLRA	Lab ID	Pedon ID	Taxonname	CI	NSSL / NASIS Reports	Link To SoilWeb GMap
63A	84P0048	1983SD085001	Opal	8	Primary | Supplementary | Taxonomy | Pedon | Water Retention | Correlation | Andic Soil Properties	43.8936119,-99.9172211
63A	85P0007	1984SD075002	Opal	8	Primary | Supplementary | Taxonomy | Pedon | Water Retention | Correlation | Andic Soil Properties	43.9302788,-100.6600037
63A	85P0008	1984SD075003	Opal	8	Primary | Supplementary | Taxonomy | Pedon | Water Retention | Correlation | Andic Soil Properties	43.9302788,-100.6602783

Water Balance

Monthly water balance estimated using a leaky-bucket style model for the OPAL 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 OPAL series. Sketches are arranged according to their subgroup-level taxonomic structure. Source: SSURGO snapshot (updated 2024-10-24), parsed OSD records (updated 2024-10-23) and snapshot of SC database (updated 2024-10-23).

Select annual climate data summaries for the OPAL 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 2024-10-23).

Geomorphic description summaries for the OPAL 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 2024-10-23).

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

Competing Series

Soil series competing with OPAL share the same family level classification in Soil Taxonomy. Source: parsed OSD records (updated 2024-10-23) and snapshot of the SC database (updated 2024-10-23).

Select annual climate data summaries for the OPAL 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 2024-10-23).

Geomorphic description summaries for the OPAL 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 2024-10-23).

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

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

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

Soil series sharing subgroup-level classification with OPAL, 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 2024-10-23).

Block Diagrams

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

1. SD-2012-03-15-06 | Corson County - July 1995

   Pattern of soils and parent material in the Sansarc-Dupree-Opal association (Soil Survey of Corson County, SD; 1995).

2. SD-2012-03-15-51 | Hyde County - 1998

   Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Opal-Promise association (Soil Survey of Hyde County, SD; 1998).

3. SD-2012-03-15-52 | Hyde County - 1998

   Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Sansarc-Opal association (Soil Survey of Hyde County, SD; 1998).

4. SD-2012-03-15-59 | Jones County - 1999

   Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Bigbend-Hilmoe and Sansarc-Opal associations (Soil Survey of Jones County, SD; 1999).

5. SD-2012-03-15-60 | Jones County - 1999

   Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Promise-Kirley and Promise associations (Soil Survey of Jones County, SD; 1999).

6. SD-2012-03-15-70 | Lyman County - May 1987

   Pattern of soils and parent material in the Millboro association (Soil Survey of Lyman County, SD; 1987).

7. SD-2012-03-15-71 | Lyman County - May 1987

   Pattern of soils and parent material in the Sansarc-Opal and Munjor-Hilmoe-Bigbend associations (Soil Survey of Lyman County, SD; 1987).

Map Units

Map units containing OPAL 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
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	39E	18447	354709	2v670	sd021	1978	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	40D	7546	354713	2v671	sd021	1978	1:20000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	40C	1601	2652509	2rmjc	sd021	1978	1:20000
Promise-Opal clays, 6 to 9 percent slopes	41C	750	354716	cx3g	sd021	1978	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, cool, 6 to 15 percent slopes	C942D	687	2797946	2rsr7	sd021	1978	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	40B	530	2652498	2rmjb	sd021	1978	1:20000
Promise-Opal clays, cool, 6 to 9 percent slopes	C940C	497	2797943	2rsr4	sd021	1978	1:20000
Opal clay, cool, 6 to 9 percent slopes	C941C	488	2797945	2rsr6	sd021	1978	1:20000
Opal clay, cool, 3 to 6 percent slopes	C941B	376	2797944	2rsr5	sd021	1978	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, cool, 15 to 40 percent slopes	C943E	337	2797947	2rsr8	sd021	1978	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal-Dupree clays, 9 to 25% slopes	SdD	30698	356208	2v673	sd031	1986	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SbE	24674	356207	2v670	sd031	1986	1:24000
Opal-Dupree clays, 2 to 9 percent slopes	OdC	19797	356183	cyms	sd031	1986	1:24000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsC	10315	356185	2v671	sd031	1986	1:24000
Opal-Hurley complex, 0 to 9 percent slopes	OhB	6170	356184	2v672	sd031	1986	1:24000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OaB	4546	2652499	2rmjb	sd031	1986	1:24000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OaC	4036	2652510	2rmjc	sd031	1986	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SbE	353390	2739007	2v670	sd041	1972	1:24000
Opal clay, 3 to 9 percent slopes	OaB	83125	354214	2rmjf	sd041	1972	1:24000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsC	77630	354217	2v671	sd041	1972	1:24000
Dupree-Opal clays, 3 to 9 percent slopes	DoB	64599	354186	319vw	sd041	1972	1:24000
Opal-Hurley complex, 0 to 9 percent slopes	OhB	34728	354215	2v672	sd041	1972	1:24000
Opal-Slickspots complex, 2 to 6 percent slopes	OtB	6213	354218	cwld	sd041	1972	1:24000
Opal-Promise clays, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OpB	3379	354216	2v66r	sd041	1972	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	S502E	2898	2615641	2v670	sd053	1982	1:20000
Rock outcrop-Sansarc-Opal complex, 6 to 40 percent slopes	RpE	70	2615642	2rmj2	sd053	1982	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsD	20239	2652521	2v671	sd055	1992	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SoE	14195	2739009	2v670	sd055	1992	1:24000
Opal-Promise clays, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OeB	13812	354127	2v66r	sd055	1992	1:24000
Opal-Promise clays, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OeC	12055	354128	2ynv3	sd055	1992	1:24000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OdC	10181	2652512	2rmjc	sd055	1992	1:24000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OdB	8333	2652500	2rmjb	sd055	1992	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	LtD	1105	352643	2v670	sd059	1959	1:20000
Opal-Lakoma clays, 9 to 15 percent slopes	OrD	6103	353315	cvn8	sd065	1970	1:20000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OpC	1399	2652513	2rmjc	sd065	1970	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OpB	527	2652501	2rmjb	sd065	1970	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SbF	10590	353847	2v670	sd069	1992	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OuD	7257	353831	2v671	sd069	1992	1:20000
Opal-Promise clays, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OfC	5866	2652514	2ynv3	sd069	1992	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OtB	5355	2652502	2rmjb	sd069	1992	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsD	42834	2652522	2v671	sd075	1991	1:24000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OpC	29003	2652515	2rmjc	sd075	1991	1:24000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OpB	25548	2652503	2rmjb	sd075	1991	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SoE	23505	2739010	2v670	sd075	1991	1:24000
Opal clay, 0 to 3 percent slopes	OpA	467	2652495	2rmj9	sd075	1991	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SbE	123558	2739011	2v670	sd085	1984	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OnD	101250	355603	2v671	sd085	1984	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal-Promise clays, 6 to 35 percent slopes	SpE	31500	2615644	2rmj4	sd085	1984	1:20000
Opal-Promise clays, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OfC	25346	2652516	2ynv3	sd085	1984	1:20000
Rock outcrop-Sansarc-Opal complex, 6 to 40 percent slopes	RpE	24818	2615646	2rmj2	sd085	1984	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OlB	19708	2652504	2rmjb	sd085	1984	1:20000
Opal-Chantier clays, 2 to 9 percent slopes	OmC	13275	355602	31cqv	sd085	1984	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal-Schamber complex, 6 to 30 percent slopes	SoE	3096	2615643	2rmj5	sd085	1984	1:20000
Opal clay, 0 to 3 percent slopes	OlA	1841	2652496	2rmj9	sd085	1984	1:20000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OcC	16770	2652511	2rmjc	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal clay, mounded, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OgC	13358	353415	319vv	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal-Kirley complex, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OlB	4123	353416	31cqr	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal-Kirley complex, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OlC	3715	353417	31cqs	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal-Mosher complex, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OmB	3660	353418	319vt	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal-Woodly complex, 3 to 9 percent slopes	OwC	3500	353422	31cqt	sd095	1971	1:20000
Tuthill-Opal complex, 3 to 9 percent slopes	ToC	3231	353448	319vr	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal-Tuthill complex, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OtD	3029	353421	319vq	sd095	1971	1:20000
Woodly-Opal complex, 3 to 6 percent slopes	WoB	2676	353456	319vs	sd095	1971	1:20000
Opal-Tuthill complex, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OtB	2069	353420	319vp	sd095	1971	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	S502E	1362	2615648	2v670	sd095	1971	1:20000
Rock outcrop-Sansarc-Opal complex, 6 to 40 percent slopes	RpE	308	2615649	2rmj2	sd095	1971	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SbE	17291	355372	2v670	sd107	1983	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OpB	8724	2652505	2rmjb	sd107	1983	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsD	7154	355357	2v671	sd107	1983	1:20000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OpC	2716	2652517	2rmjc	sd107	1983	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal-Dupree, acid, clays, 6 to 25 percent slopes	R510E	157	2482452	2v674	sd107	1983	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SoE	171942	2739013	2v670	sd117	1977	1:24000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OpB	46139	2652506	2rmjb	sd117	1977	1:24000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OpC	43129	2652518	2rmjc	sd117	1977	1:24000
Opal-Chantier clays, 2 to 9 percent slopes	OmC	22910	353499	31cqv	sd117	1977	1:24000
Opal clay, 0 to 3 percent slopes	OpA	2844	2652497	2rmj9	sd117	1977	1:24000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsD	643	1015963	2v671	sd117	1977	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal-Dupree, acid, clays, 6 to 25 percent slopes	R510E	11047	2739020	2v674	sd119	1967	1:20000
Opal-Dupree clays, 6 to 21 percent slopes	OuD	977	353111	cvfp	sd119	1967	1:20000
Opal clay, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OtC	426	2652519	2rmjc	sd119	1967	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OtB	278	2652507	2rmjb	sd119	1967	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	S502E	40820	2615651	2v670	sd123	1975	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsE	6546	354424	2v671	sd123	1975	1:20000
Rock outcrop-Sansarc-Opal complex, 6 to 40 percent slopes	RpE	1410	2615650	2rmj2	sd123	1975	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 9 percent slopes	OpC	1190	354423	2rmjf	sd123	1975	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SaE	17503	354525	2v670	sd129	1975	1:20000
Opal-Sansarc clays, 6 to 15 percent slopes	OsD	14696	354515	2v671	sd129	1975	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 9 percent slopes	OpC	8983	354514	2rmjf	sd129	1975	1:20000
Opal clay, cool, 6 to 9 percent slopes	C941C	19	2800151	2rsr6	sd129	1975	1:20000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	R507E	74745	2649230	2v670	sd137	1985	1:24000
Sansarc-Opal clays, 9 to 25 percent slopes	SaE	52167	2739016	2v670	sd603	1983	1:20000
Opal-Promise clays, 6 to 9 percent slopes	OfC	24091	2652520	2ynv3	sd603	1983	1:20000
Opal clay, 3 to 6 percent slopes	OmB	11304	2652508	2rmjb	sd603	1983	1:20000
Opal clay, saline, 1 to 6 percent slopes	OpB	7664	2652523	2rmjg	sd603	1983	1:20000

Map of Series Extent

Approximate geographic distribution of the OPAL 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 2024-10-30).