A Study of the Annual Soil Temperature Wave

1952 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
ES West

Soil temperatures recorded at Griffith over an 8 year period at a depth ranging from 1 in. to 8 ft. have been examined and compared with air temperatures. The observed fluctuations m the soil temperatures fit closely the theoretical equation for the propagation of a simple harmonic temperature wave into the so11. The diffusivity of the sol1 has been deduced and compared with values found by other workers in other localities. The annual wave of the daily mean temperature at the surface of the soil has been deduced and compared with the annual wave of the dally mean air temperature and the differences in the means, amplitudes, and phase displacements have been discussed.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 4465-4479 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Hanis ◽  
M. Tenuta ◽  
B. D. Amiro ◽  
T. N. Papakyriakou

Abstract. Ecosystem-scale methane (CH4) flux (FCH4) over a subarctic fen at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada was measured to understand the magnitude of emissions during spring and fall shoulder seasons, and the growing season in relation to physical and biological conditions. FCH4 was measured using eddy covariance with a closed-path analyser in four years (2008–2011). Cumulative measured annual FCH4 (shoulder plus growing seasons) ranged from 3.0 to 9.6 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 among the four study years, with a mean of 6.5 to 7.1 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 depending upon gap-filling method. Soil temperatures to depths of 50 cm and air temperature were highly correlated with FCH4, with near-surface soil temperature at 5 cm most correlated across spring, fall, and the shoulder and growing seasons. The response of FCH4 to soil temperature at the 5 cm depth and air temperature was more than double in spring to that of fall. Emission episodes were generally not observed during spring thaw. Growing season emissions also depended upon soil and air temperatures but the water table also exerted influence, with FCH4 highest when water was 2–13 cm below and lowest when it was at or above the mean peat surface.


1928 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. McKenzie Taylor

1. The soil temperatures in Egypt at a number of depths have been recorded by means of continuous recording thermometers. In general, the records show that the amplitude of the temperature wave at the surface of the soil is considerably greater than the air temperature wave. There is, however, a considerable damping of the wave with depth, no daily variation in temperature being observed at a depth of 100 cm.2. No definite relation between the air and soil temperatures could be traced. The maximum air temperature was recorded in May and the maximum soil temperature in July.3. The amplitude of the temperature wave decreases with increase in depth. The decrease in amplitude of the soil temperature wave is not regular owing to variations in the physical properties of the soil layers. Between any two depths, the ratio of the amplitudes of the temperature waves is constant throughout the year. The amplitude of the soil temperature wave bears no relation to the amplitude of the air temperature wave.4. The time of maximum temperature at the soil surface is constant throughout the year at 1 p.m. The times of maximum temperature at depths below the surface lag behind the time of surface maximum, but they are constant throughout the year. When plotted against depth, the times of maximum at the various soil depths lie on a straight line.


Soil Research ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Horton ◽  
Ross Corkrey

Soil temperatures are related to air temperature and rainfall on the current day and preceding days, and this can be expressed in a non-linear relationship to provide a weighted value for the effect of air temperature or rainfall based on days lag and soil depth. The weighted minimum and maximum air temperatures and weighted rainfall can then be combined with latitude and a seasonal function to estimate soil temperature at any depth in the range 5–100 cm. The model had a root mean square deviation of 1.21–1.85°C for minimum, average, and maximum soil temperature for all weather stations in Australia (mainland and Tasmania), except for maximum soil temperature at 5 and 10 cm, where the model was less precise (3.39° and 2.52°, respectively). Data for this analysis were obtained from 32–40 Bureau of Meteorology weather stations throughout Australia and the proposed model was validated using 5-fold cross-validation.


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale S. Nichols

Soil temperature strongly influences physical, chemical, and biological activities in soil. However, soil temperature data for forest landscapes are scarce. For 6 yr, weekly soil temperatures were measured at two upland and four peatland sites in north central Minnesota. One upland site supported mature aspen forest, the other supported short grass. One peatland site was forested with black spruce, one supported tall willow and alder brush, and two had open vegetation — sedges and low shrubs. Mean annual air temperature averaged 3.6 °C. Mean annual soil temperatures at 10- to 200-cm depths ranged from 5.5 to 7.6 °C among the six sites. Soils with open vegetation, whether mineral or peat, averaged about 1 °C warmer annually and from 2 to 3 °C warmer during summer than the forested soils. The tall brush peatland was cooler than all other sites due to strong groundwater inputs. The mineral soils warmed more quickly in the spring, achieved higher temperatures in the summer, and cooled more quickly in the fall than the peat soils; however, the greatest temperature differences between mineral and peat soils occurred at or below 50 cm. In the upper 20 cm, vegetation and groundwater had greater effects on temperature than did soil type (mineral or peat). Summer soil temperatures were higher, relative to air temperature, during periods of greater precipitation. This effect was minimal at upland sites but substantial in the peatlands. In spite of the persistent sub-freezing air temperatures typical of Minnesota winters, significant frost developed in the soils only in those years when severe cold weather arrived before an insulating cover of snow had accumulated. Key words: Soil temperature, vegetation effects, forest soils, groundwater, peatlands


1971 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-75
Author(s):  
A.T. Abdelhafeez ◽  
H. Harssema ◽  
G. Veri ◽  
K. Verkerk

In glasshouse experiments (a) without air temperature control and soil temperatures ranging from 14 degrees to 29 degrees C, and (b) with constant air temperatures of 17 degrees , 21 degrees and 25 degrees C and soil temperatures ranging from 12 degrees to 30 degrees C, growth of tomato plants was reduced at soil temperatures below 17 degrees C and air temperatures below 20 degrees C. Soil temperature did not influence reproductive development very much; root extension was somewhat influenced by soil temperature, and high soil temperatures increased the water use. A late but rather profuse flowering was produced by low air temperatures. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


1969 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Lugo-López ◽  
Modesto Capiel

Soil temperature data at Río Piedras in the north, Lajas in the southwest, and Fortuna in the south, are given in this paper for the 5-year period 1963- 67. Seasonal variations in soil and air temperatures follow distinct patterns somewhat, depending on the nature of the soil cover and rainfall. Mean maximum and minimum temperatures at the 2-inch depth, respectively, are: Río Piedras, 96.2° F. and 79.6° F.; Lajas, 102.1° F. and 69.0° F.; and Fortuna, 93.2° F. and 79.1° F. The corresponding soil temperatures at the 8-inch depth, respectively, are: Río Piedras, 80.5° F. and 77.4° F.; Lajas, 83.4° F. and 77.8° F.; and Fortuna, 85.7° F. and 82.7° F. The differences and trends of soil temperature at 2-inch and 8-inch depths can find adequate explanation when soil moisture and soil cover are considered. However, the differences between maximum and minimum soil temperatures at 8 inches of depth are roughly one fifth of the corresponding ones at the 2-inch depth. The maximum and minimum air temperature at Lajas, Fortuna and Río Piedras are much more similar to each other than the corresponding soil temperature, especially at the 2-inch depth. This is mainly because air temperature is rather measured on a macro and integrating scale while soil temperature measurements exhibit localized effects of soil cover and soil moisture. It was found that highly significant 2-inch soil-air temperature relationships are evident under bare soil conditions. The same relationships were not significant under sod cover at Fortuna.


2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Véle ◽  
J. Holuša ◽  
J. Frouz

Five types of stand stages (clearings-samplings, plantations, thinnings, thickets, and mature forests) of spruce forests were examined at the foothills of the Jizerské hory Mts. in summer 2005 and 2006. The presence of ants was surveyed by catching them into pitfall traps and observing on baits. Higher numbers of <I>Formica fusca</I> ants were found in clearings-samplings and in plantations. Their activity was higher at the soil and air temperature of 20–30°C. The peak of activity was observed in July. Most specimens were trapped at lighter habitats and in the sites with more than 50% herbaceous and gramineous vegetation cover. <I> F. pratensis</I> was trapped in plantations and thickets. It was active at the soil temperatures 12–21°C and air temperatures 16–25°C. It occurred both in dark and light areas. <I>F. sanguinea</I> most commonly occurred in thinnings. This species was the most active at the soil temperature 20–30°C. Its activity depending on air temperature grew almost linearly. It occurred both in dark and in light stand stages with at least 60% vegetation cover. <I>F. truncorum</I> was observed only in thinnings. The activity of <I>F. truncorum</I> was the highest at the air and soil temperatures 15–25°C. The peak of activity was recorded in July. It was observed only in stands with the quantity of incident radiation 1,030 lx and with 20–80% of undergrowth cover.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 4539-4574
Author(s):  
K. L. Hanis ◽  
M. Tenuta ◽  
B. D. Amiro ◽  
T. N. Papakyriakou

Abstract. Ecosystem-scale methane (CH4) flux (FCH4) over a subarctic fen at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada was measured to understand the magnitude of emissions during spring and fall shoulder seasons, and the growing season in relation to physical and biological conditions. FCH4 was measured using eddy covariance with a closed-path analyzer in four years (2008–2011). Cumulative measured annual FCH4 (shoulder plus growing seasons) ranged from 3.0 to 9.6 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 among the four study years, with a mean of 6.5 to 7.1 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 depending upon gap-filling method. Soil temperatures to depths of 50 cm and air temperature were highly correlated with FCH4, with near surface soil temperature at 5 cm most correlated across spring, fall, and the whole season. The response of FCH4 to soil temperature at the 5 cm depth and air temperature was more than double in spring to that of fall. Emission episodes were generally not observed during spring thaw. Growing season emissions also depended upon soil and air temperatures but water table also exerted influence with FCH4 highest when water was 2–13 cm below and least when it was at or above the mean peat surface.


HortScience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingzhang Xu ◽  
Bingru Huang ◽  
Zhaolong Wang

Turf quality of creeping bentgrass (Agrotis palustris L.) often declines during summer months. Reducing soil temperature alleviates bentgrass quality decline at supraoptimal air temperatures. The objective of this study was to investigate whether reducing soil temperature during the night is more effective than during the day in improving shoot and root growth when air temperature was supraoptimal for creeping bentgrass. The experiment was conducted in growth chambers using water baths to manipulate soil temperatures. Plants were exposed to the following temperature treatments: 1) optimal air and soil temperature during the day and night (20/20 °C, day/night, control); 2) high air and soil temperature during the day and night (35/35 °C, day/night); 3) lower soil temperatures during the day (20/35, 25/35, and 30/35 °C, day/night); and 4) lower soil temperature during the night (35/20, 35/25, and 35/30 °C) while air temperature was maintained at 35 °C during the day and night. Turf quality (on 1-9 scale) increased to the level of 6.5, 3.0, and 2.5 by reducing day soil temperature to 20, 25, or 30 °C, respectively, at 28 days of treatment, compared to the quality of 2.0 at 35/35 °C. Turf quality increased from 2.0 at 35/35 °C to 7.0, 6.0, and 4.5, respectively, by 28 days of exposure to night temperatures of 20, 25, and 30 °C. Chlorophyll content, root number, and root weight also were increased by reducing day or night soil temperature, and the increases were more pronounced for reduced night temperatures than day temperatures. These results demonstrated that reduced night soil temperature was more effective than reduced day soil temperature in improving shoot and root growth in creeping bentgrass under high air temperature conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bertrand ◽  
L. González Sotelino ◽  
M. Journée

Abstract. Soil temperatures at various depths are unique parameters useful to describe both the surface energy processes and regional environmental and climate conditions. To provide soil temperature observation in different regions across Belgium for agricultural management as well as for climate research, soil temperatures are recorded in 13 of the 20 automated weather stations operated by the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) of Belgium. At each station, soil temperature can be measured at up to 5 different depths (from 5 to 100 cm) in addition to the bare soil and grass temperature records. Although many methods have been developed to identify erroneous air temperatures, little attention has been paid to quality control of soil temperature data. This contribution describes the newly developed semi-automatic quality control of 10-min soil temperatures data at RMI.


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