Soil heat flow investigation at Cass, South Island high country

Abstract

Soil heat flow was measured in a high country valley for periods at different seasons of the year when rain followed a dry spell. The thermal conductivity and the heat capacity of the soil are computed. Heating is then compared with periodic models. Periodic heating at the surface is demonstrated, but a model describing heating through all depths is not found satisfactory. Finally, the heat flow for the periods investigated is related to the other components of the heat balance at the surface.