Te Onetapu , commonly known as the Rangipo Desert , is a barren desert-like environment located in New Zealand , located in the Ruapehu District on the North Island Volcanic Plateau ; to the east of the three active peaks of Mount Tongariro , Mount Ngauruhoe , and Mount Ruapehu , and to the west of the Kaimanawa Range .
13-561: The Rangipo Desert receives 1,500–2,500 mm (59–98 in) of rainfall per year, but resembles a desert because of its location on the volcanic plateau adjacently east of Ruapehu, a poor soil quality and drying winds, and also due to the mass sterilisation of seeds during a series of violent eruptions, particularly ignimbrite flows about 20,000 years ago. The vegetation is low and sparse, consisting of mainly tussock and snow grasses . The headwaters of many small streams, which later turn into large rivers, gouge deep serrated valleys through
26-952: A major impact on soil quality. Soil quality relates to soil functions . Unlike water or air, for which established standards have been set, soil quality is difficult to define or quantify. Soil quality can be evaluated using the Soil Management Assessment Framework. Soil quality in agricultural terms is measured on a scale of soil value ( Bodenwertzahl ) in Germany . Soil quality is primarily measured by chemical, physical, and biological indicators because soil function cannot easily be measured directly. Each of these categories comprises several indicators that provide insight into overall soil quality. There are very few soil quality monitoring systems that can provide near real-time information on these indicators but almost all of these systems are currently reported only to
39-472: Is based on a field assessment framework which combines an assessment of soil type, soil condition (soil development) and the parent material of which the soil is composed. The result, the soil value, expresses the relative net income that, under normal and proper management, is determined only by the profitability of the soil. Additions or deductions in this value to take account of variations in yield due to terrain and climate (e.g. average annual temperature) give
52-692: Is bisected by only one sealed road, a section of State Highway 1 known as the Desert Road . The road is closed for short periods most winters with barriers arms due to severe snow storms and icy road conditions. Turangi emergency services monitor the northern part of the Desert Road and the NZDF Military Police at Waiouru is responsible for the southern end. The boundary between the Waikato and Manawatū-Whanganui regions intersects
65-738: The Desert Road at its summit, which at 1074m above sea level is the highest pass on the New Zealand State Highway network . The Lord of the Rings films were shot in New Zealand, and the Black Gate of Mordor scenes were shot in the Rangipo Desert in 2000. 39°14′34″S 175°43′48″E / 39.2428°S 175.73°E / -39.2428; 175.73 Soil quality Soil quality refers to
78-913: The Soil Assessment Act in 1934 a soil value of 100 was established in the leading Reich farm of Haberhauffe/Jäger . It was the basis of comparison for the tax rating of farms in Germany. Since this farm was no longer available for comparisons within West Germany after the Second World War , a farm in Machtsum near Harsum in the Hildesheim Börde was designated as the Federal Standard Farm. During later measurements, an even higher value of BWZ – 102.8 –
91-445: The cold south wind which can produce wind chill factors lowering the temperature below 0°C (32°F) for days on end. Much of the desert lies at an altitude of over 600 m (2,000 ft), and a considerable proportion of it is over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. The region is largely uninhabited, possibly due to the unproductive nature of the extreme winter climate. The town of Waiouru , with its army camp, lies to
104-399: The condition of soil based on its capacity to perform ecosystem services that meet the needs of human and non-human life. Soil quality reflects how well a soil performs the functions of maintaining biodiversity and productivity, partitioning water and solute flow, filtering and buffering, nutrient cycling , and providing support for plants and other structures. Soil management has
117-644: The field value ( Ackerzahl ). The following colour scheme is used referring to the soil quality for certain ranges of values: The values exhibited by different types of soil are: As a yardstick for soil quality, a "Reich Standard Farm" was set up during the Third Reich in the parish of Eickendorf in the Magdeburger Börde , an exceptionally rich arable region. During the Reich Soil Assessment ( Reichsbodenschätzung ) following
130-496: The regulation of soil structure, degradation of contaminants, and nutrient cycling. Soil value Soil value ( German : Bodenwertzahl ) or BWZ is a comparative assessment of soil quality used in Germany . It is determined from soil sampling data and ranges from 0 (very low) to 100 (very high). According to the Geological Service of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia , the soil value of arable land
143-687: The research level. The physical category of soil quality indicators consists of tests that measure soil texture, bulk density, porosity, water content at saturation, aggregate stability, penetration resistance, and more. These measures provide hydrological information, such the level of water infiltration and water availability to plants. Chemical indicators include pH and nutrient levels. A typical soil test only evaluates chemical soil properties. Biological measures include diversity of soil organisms and fungi. The movement and biological functions of soil organisms (including earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, ants, and spiders) impact soil processes such as
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#1732779533192156-621: The south and much of the southern part of the desert is used for training purposes. To the north of the desert lies the Rangipo prison farm . Many of the North Island's largest rivers have their headwaters in the area, particularly around the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, the North Island's highest mountain . These include the Waikato and Whangaehu Rivers , as well as major tributaries of the Rangitikei and Whanganui Rivers . The desert
169-415: The unconsolidated ash and pumice-rich earth. The climate here is harsh and alpine, with close to 270 ground frosts per year in comparison with less than 30 in the coastal regions of Hawke's Bay , 80 km (50 mi) to the east. Heavy snowfalls - rarely seen in the rest of the island - are also a common occurrence in winter. Trampers and climbers in the area should be mindful of the extreme chill effect of
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