Soil thermal properties
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The thermal properties of soil are a component of soil physics that has found important uses in engineering, climatology and agriculture. These properties influence how energy is partitioned in the soil profile. While related to soil temperature, it is more accurately associated with the transfer of heat throughout the soil, by radiation, conduction and convection.
The main soil thermal properties are:
- Volumetric heat capacity, SI Units: J.m-3∙K-1
- Thermal conductivity , SI Units: W.m-1∙K-1
- Thermal diffusivity , SI Units: m2∙s-1
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[edit] Measurement
Soil thermal properties are difficult to measure in the field because soil temperatures are in a constant state of flux from diurnal and seasonal variations. Temperature variations are most extreme at the surface of the soil and these variations are transferred to sub surface layers but at reduced rates as depth increases. Additionally there is a time delay as to when maximum and minimum temperatures are achieved at increasing soil depth (sometimes referred to as thermal lag).
Measurement of soil thermal properties is based on Fourier's law,
Q = - λ dT/dz
where Q is heat flux or rate of heat transfer per unit area J.m-1∙s-11, λ is thermal conductivity W.m-1∙K-1; and dT/dz is the gradient of temperature (change in temp/change in depth) K.m-1.
However a further equation is also required due to the constant state of flux of the soil temperature. The continuity equation states that, the time rate of change in heat content of a volume element must equal the change of flux with distance.
Soil thermal properties are strongly influenced by the soil volumetric water content, volume fraction of solids and volume fraction of air. Air is a poor thermal conductor and reduces the effectiveness of the solid and liquid phases to conduct heat. While the solid phase has the highest conductivity it is the variability of soil moisture that largely determines land temperatures. As such soil moisture properties and soil thermal properties are very closely linked and are often measured and reported together.
[edit] Single and dual heat probes
The single probe method employs a heat source inserted into the soil whereby heat energy is applied continuously at a given rate. The thermal properties of the soil can be determined by analysing the temperature response adjacent to the heat source via a thermal sensor. This method reflects the rate at which heat is conducted away from the probe. The limitation of this device is that it measures thermal conductivity only.
After further research the dual-probe heat-pulse technique was developed. It consists of two parallel needle probes separated by a distance (r). One probe contains a heater and the other a temperature sensor. The dual probe device is inserted into the soil and a heat pulse is applied and the temperature sensor records the response as a function of time. That is, a heat pulse is sent from the probe across the soil (r) to the sensor. The great benefit of this device is that it measures both thermal diffusivity and volumetric heat capacity. From this, thermal conductivity can be calculated meaning the dual probe can determine all the main soil thermal properties. Potential drawbacks of the heat-pulse technique have been noted. This includes the small measuring volume of soil as well as measurements being sensitive to probe to soil contact and sensor to heater spacing (r).
[edit] Remote sensing
In recent years remote sensing from satellites, aircraft has greatly enhanced how the variation in soil thermal properties can be identified and utilized to benefit many aspects of human endeavour. While remote sensing of reflected light from surfaces does indicate thermal response of the topmost layers of soil (a few molecular layers thick), it is thermal infrared wavelength that provides energy variations extending to varying shallow depths below the ground surface which is of most interest. A thermal sensor can detect variations to heat transfers into and out of near surface layers because of external heating by the thermal processes of conduction, convection, and radiation. Microwave remote sensing from satellites has also proven useful as it has an advantage over TIR of not being effected by cloud cover.
The various methods of measuring soil thermal properties have been utilised to assist in diverse fields such as; the expansion and contraction of construction materials especially in freezing soils, longevity and efficiency of gas pipes or electrical cables buried in the ground, energy conservation schemes, in agriculture for timing of planting to ensure optimum seedling emergence and crop growth, measuring greenhouse gas emissions as heat effects the liberation of carbon dioxide from soil. Soil thermal properties are also becoming important in areas of environmental science such as determining water movement in radioactive waste and in locating buried land mines.
[edit] References
- Bristow KL, Kluitenberg GJ, Goding CJ, Fitzgerald TS (2001). "A small multi-needle probe for measuring soil thermal properties, water content and electrical conductivity". Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 31: 265-280.
