Soil Data Explorer - TIERRA

Official Series Description

Lab Data Summary

Aggregate lab data for the TIERRA soil series. This aggregation is based on all pedons with a current taxon name of TIERRA, 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA 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 TIERRA, 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. CA-2012-05-09-16 | San Mateo Area - May 1961

   Southwest to northeast cross section, at Pigeon Point, showing relationship of geologic formations, land forms, and soil series. Prepared by R. J. Arkley, University of California, Department of Soils and Plant Nutritions (Soil Survey of San Mateo Area, California; May 1961).

Map Units

Map units containing TIERRA 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
Tierra loam, 9 to 15 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TaD	4980	455864	2tz0w	ca013	1973	1:24000
Tierra loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TaC	3666	455863	2tz0r	ca013	1973	1:24000
Tierra loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TaE	2520	455865	2tz0x	ca013	1973	1:24000
Tierra-Watsonville complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes	174	3766	455950	h9g2	ca087	1976	1:24000
Tierra-Watsonville complex, 30 to 50 percent slopes	175	2158	455951	h9g3	ca087	1976	1:24000
Tierra loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TaCcc		456644	2tz0r	ca609	1963	1:20000
Tierra loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TaCcc		825142	2tz0r	ca610	1975	1:24000
Tierra loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TaEcc		456718	2tz0x	ca610	1975	1:24000
Urban land-Tierra complex, 2 to 5 percent slopes	150	4832	456703	hb7c	ca610	1975	1:24000
Urban land-Tierra complex, 5 to 15 percent slopes	151	2669	456704	hb7d	ca610	1975	1:24000
Urban land-Tierra complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes	152	2158	456705	hb7f	ca610	1975	1:24000
Tierra loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes	145	278	456698	hb76	ca610	1975	1:24000
Tierra loam, steep, eroded	TeE2	2260	456520	2yrff	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra loam, moderately steep, eroded	TeD2	1623	456518	2yrfc	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra loam, sloping, eroded	TeC2	638	456517	2yrfd	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra loam, steep, severely eroded	TeE3	622	456521	2yrfg	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra sandy loam, acid variant, gently sloping	TsB	535	456524	hb1l	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra sandy loam, moderately steep, eroded	TmD2	360	456523	hb1k	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra sandy loam, acid variant, sloping, eroded	TsC2	329	456525	hb1m	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra sandy loam, sloping, eroded	TmC2	256	456522	hb1j	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra loam, moderately steep, severely eroded	TeD3	109	456519	hb1f	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra clay loam, sloping, eroded	TcC2	103	456514	2yrfb	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra clay loam, moderately steep, eroded	TcD2	76	456515	2yrf9	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra sandy loam, acid variant, moderately steep, eroded	TsD2	56	456526	hb1n	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra loam, gently sloping	TeB	28	456516	hb1b	ca637	1958	1:15000
Tierra sandy loam, acid variant, steep, severely eroded	TsE3	22	456527	hb1p	ca637	1958	1:15000
Briones-Tierra complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes	110	6950	457082	hbml	ca664	1977	1:24000
Pismo-Tierra complex, 9 to 15 percent slopes	191	3040	457163	hbq6	ca664	1977	1:24000
Tierra sandy loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, MLRA 14	216	1960	457188	2tz0q	ca664	1977	1:24000
Tierra loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, MLRA 14	218	590	457190	2tz0x	ca664	1977	1:24000
Tierra loam, 9 to 15 percent slopes, MLRA 14	217	585	457189	2tz0w	ca664	1977	1:24000
San Andreas-Tierra complex, 30 to 75 percent slopes	SfG	11119	457487	hc1n	ca672	1966	1:20000
San Andreas-Tierra complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes	SfE	6729	457485	hc1l	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra loam, 5 to 30 percent slopes, severely eroded	TrE3	3078	457539	hc3b	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra sandy loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, eroded	TnE2	2254	457535	hc36	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TrC	2017	457536	2tz0r	ca672	1966	1:20000
San Andreas-Tierra complex, 9 to 45 percent slopes, severely eroded	SfF3	1745	457486	hc1m	ca672	1966	1:20000
San Andreas-Tierra complex, 5 to 15 percent slopes	SfD	1517	457484	hc1k	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra clay loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes	TsF	1477	457540	hc3c	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra sandy loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TnC	1446	457533	2tz0q	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra sandy loam, 9 to 15 percent slopes, eroded	TnD2	1360	457534	hc35	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra loam, 9 to 15 percent slopes, MLRA 14	TrD	1270	457537	2tz0w	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra loamy sand, 9 to 30 percent slopes	TmE	1116	457532	hc33	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, eroded	TrE2	1064	457538	hc39	ca672	1966	1:20000
Tierra loamy sand, 2 to 9 percent slopes	TmC	377	457531	hc32	ca672	1966	1:20000
San Andreas-Tierra complex , 15 to 30 percent slopes, eroded	SaE2	801	457638	hc6j	ca673	1974	1:24000
San Andreas-Tierra complex, 30 to 50 percent slopes, eroded	SaF2	717	457639	hc6k	ca673	1974	1:24000
Tierra-San Andreas complex , 15 to 30 percent slopes, severely eroded	TaE2	292	457658	hc75	ca673	1974	1:24000
San Andreas-Tierra complex, 9 to 15 percent slopes, eroded	SaD2	192	457637	hc6h	ca673	1974	1:24000

Map of Series Extent

Approximate geographic distribution of the TIERRA 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).