Soil and soil moisture budget in Ainsdale Dunes

• What is the soil like in Ainsdale dune close to the sea ?

  nutrient poor and little depth
• How does the soil depth vary along Ainsdale Dune?

  Soil Depth increases with distance from the shore
• What are the characteristics of the soil in Ainsdale Dune?

  Salty alkaline and dry
• What is the soil moisture budget in Ainsdale Dune?

  negative
• Why is the soil moisture budget negative in Ainsdale Dune?

  Sand is porous so water travels through it quickly
• How is the water table affected due to the sand being porous in Ainsdale dune?

  the water table is deep
• How does the water table differ in dune slacks in Ainsdale dune?

  the water table is closer to the surface so the sand is wetter
• Sand Dune:

  A) dunes of increasing age

  B) water table

  C) Dune Slack

  
• What happens to the water table during summer in Ainsdale Dune?

  the water table falls
• Why does the water table fall during the summer in Ainsdale Dune?

  evapotranspiration is higher than precipitation
• What happens to the water table during winter in Ainsdale dune?

  it rises
• Why does the water table rise during winter in Ainsdale Dune?

  precipitation is higher than evapotranspiration
• What happens to the dune slacks during the winter?

  they flood