Effects of Lateral Heat Flow on Ground Temperature in Permafrost Regions
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Yu, Hong Gang, Bonney Mitchell T.
Primary Institution: Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada
Hypothesis
How does lateral conductive heat flow impact ground temperature in permafrost regions?
Conclusion
Lateral heat flow significantly affects ground temperature, especially at greater depths, leading to potential errors in one-dimensional permafrost models.
Supporting Evidence
- Lateral heat flow can cause ground temperature errors of up to 5 °C in one-dimensional models.
- Ground temperature profiles from 191 boreholes showed significant variation with depth.
- One-dimensional models may not accurately represent ground temperature in areas with small grid sizes.
Takeaway
This study shows that heat from nearby areas can change how warm or cold the ground is, especially deep down, which is important for understanding permafrost.
Methodology
The study used theoretical calculations to assess the impacts of lateral conductive heat flow on ground temperature under various conditions.
Limitations
The study did not account for latent heat and water flow effects, which can also influence ground temperature.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed data from 191 boreholes in a mining area in northeastern Canada.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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