Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)

The results of measurements of the ground freezing under a snow cover do not always agree with the calculations. The reason for this may be variability of thermal characteristics of the snow cover which properties depend on the landscape features. One of probable reasons may be also the incomplete c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: V. M. Kotlyakov, A. V. Sosnovsky, R. A. Chernov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Nauka 2019-06-01
Series:Лëд и снег
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/559
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849688372648345600
author V. M. Kotlyakov
A. V. Sosnovsky
R. A. Chernov
author_facet V. M. Kotlyakov
A. V. Sosnovsky
R. A. Chernov
author_sort V. M. Kotlyakov
collection DOAJ
description The results of measurements of the ground freezing under a snow cover do not always agree with the calculations. The reason for this may be variability of thermal characteristics of the snow cover which properties depend on the landscape features. One of probable reasons may be also the incomplete contact between the snow cover and the soil. In autumn, the ground surface is usually covered with fallen leaves or withered grass. Estimates show that, in the presence of such layer on the soil surface, the air gap between snow and soil with the 1 cm thickness has a thermal protection capacity equal to the value of a 10‑centimeter thick layer of snow. Sometimes the presence of local gaps in the snow-soil interface can also be caused by other reason, for example, the spontaneous downfall of a depth hoar layer. The results of field measurements of snow cover characteristics, ground freezing depths and investigation of the contact conditions at the snow-soil interface carried out in different landscapes are presented. The results of mathematical modeling showed that when the air gap between snow and soil is taken into account the calculated values of depth of ground freezing are in a good agreement with data of the measurements. This consideration is especially important for small thicknesses of snow cover with high density and thermal conductivity. Numerical experiments did also show that the snow hardness is the necessary characteristic for analysis of the snow cover state. This provides more accurate estimating of the snow thermal conductivity that is closely connected with its hardness.
format Article
id doaj-art-a2c5ae0f84eb49dbb79e7b4e68279fc1
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-6734
2412-3765
language Russian
publishDate 2019-06-01
publisher Nauka
record_format Article
series Лëд и снег
spelling doaj-art-a2c5ae0f84eb49dbb79e7b4e68279fc12025-08-20T03:22:00ZrusNaukaЛëд и снег2076-67342412-37652019-06-0159218219010.15356/2076-6734-2019-2-407413Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)V. M. Kotlyakov0A. V. Sosnovsky1R. A. Chernov2Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Geography, Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Geography, Russian Academy of SciencesThe results of measurements of the ground freezing under a snow cover do not always agree with the calculations. The reason for this may be variability of thermal characteristics of the snow cover which properties depend on the landscape features. One of probable reasons may be also the incomplete contact between the snow cover and the soil. In autumn, the ground surface is usually covered with fallen leaves or withered grass. Estimates show that, in the presence of such layer on the soil surface, the air gap between snow and soil with the 1 cm thickness has a thermal protection capacity equal to the value of a 10‑centimeter thick layer of snow. Sometimes the presence of local gaps in the snow-soil interface can also be caused by other reason, for example, the spontaneous downfall of a depth hoar layer. The results of field measurements of snow cover characteristics, ground freezing depths and investigation of the contact conditions at the snow-soil interface carried out in different landscapes are presented. The results of mathematical modeling showed that when the air gap between snow and soil is taken into account the calculated values of depth of ground freezing are in a good agreement with data of the measurements. This consideration is especially important for small thicknesses of snow cover with high density and thermal conductivity. Numerical experiments did also show that the snow hardness is the necessary characteristic for analysis of the snow cover state. This provides more accurate estimating of the snow thermal conductivity that is closely connected with its hardness.https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/559air gaplandscape conditionsmathematical modelingsnow coverground freezingthermal conductivitythermal regimethe snow– soil interface
spellingShingle V. M. Kotlyakov
A. V. Sosnovsky
R. A. Chernov
Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)
Лëд и снег
air gap
landscape conditions
mathematical modeling
snow cover
ground freezing
thermal conductivity
thermal regime
the snow– soil interface
title Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)
title_full Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)
title_fullStr Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)
title_full_unstemmed Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)
title_short Influence of the snow–soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing (based on observations in the Kursk region)
title_sort influence of the snow soil contact conditions on the depth of ground freezing based on observations in the kursk region
topic air gap
landscape conditions
mathematical modeling
snow cover
ground freezing
thermal conductivity
thermal regime
the snow– soil interface
url https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/559
work_keys_str_mv AT vmkotlyakov influenceofthesnowsoilcontactconditionsonthedepthofgroundfreezingbasedonobservationsinthekurskregion
AT avsosnovsky influenceofthesnowsoilcontactconditionsonthedepthofgroundfreezingbasedonobservationsinthekurskregion
AT rachernov influenceofthesnowsoilcontactconditionsonthedepthofgroundfreezingbasedonobservationsinthekurskregion