Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais
The dependence of air temperature on elevation (i.e., its elevational gradient) in the mountains is well known. However, the elevational gradient of near-surface ground temperatures and derived thermal parameters is much less understood. In this study, we investigated how these parameters depend on...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1742022 |
| _version_ | 1818359962866286592 |
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| author | Armin Rist Lotti Roth Heinz Veit |
| author_facet | Armin Rist Lotti Roth Heinz Veit |
| author_sort | Armin Rist |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The dependence of air temperature on elevation (i.e., its elevational gradient) in the mountains is well known. However, the elevational gradient of near-surface ground temperatures and derived thermal parameters is much less understood. In this study, we investigated how these parameters depend on elevation by one-year temperature measurements along a transect in the Valais Alps (Switzerland) between 700 and 2,600 m a.s.l. In addition, we studied the effect of differences in slope aspect (north/south) and land cover (open field/forest). Air temperatures were measured as a reference. The results show that the ground thermal regime distinctly differs from that of the air. These differences could mainly be attributed to radiation, snow cover, and ground heat transfer. Our findings have far-reaching implications for ecosystems, agriculture, and forestry in mountains because a large portion of the living biomass is underground and thus affected by ground thermal processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T20:53:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-245e86e8685e400ca628d0d47fbd9463 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1523-0430 1938-4246 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T20:53:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-245e86e8685e400ca628d0d47fbd94632022-12-21T23:31:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research1523-04301938-42462020-01-0152134136010.1080/15230430.2020.17420221742022Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine ValaisArmin Rist0Lotti Roth1Heinz Veit2University of BernUniversity of BernUniversity of BernThe dependence of air temperature on elevation (i.e., its elevational gradient) in the mountains is well known. However, the elevational gradient of near-surface ground temperatures and derived thermal parameters is much less understood. In this study, we investigated how these parameters depend on elevation by one-year temperature measurements along a transect in the Valais Alps (Switzerland) between 700 and 2,600 m a.s.l. In addition, we studied the effect of differences in slope aspect (north/south) and land cover (open field/forest). Air temperatures were measured as a reference. The results show that the ground thermal regime distinctly differs from that of the air. These differences could mainly be attributed to radiation, snow cover, and ground heat transfer. Our findings have far-reaching implications for ecosystems, agriculture, and forestry in mountains because a large portion of the living biomass is underground and thus affected by ground thermal processes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1742022ground thermal regimeelevational gradientslope aspectland covermountains |
| spellingShingle | Armin Rist Lotti Roth Heinz Veit Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research ground thermal regime elevational gradient slope aspect land cover mountains |
| title | Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais |
| title_full | Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais |
| title_fullStr | Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais |
| title_short | Elevational ground/air thermal gradients in the Swiss inner Alpine Valais |
| title_sort | elevational ground air thermal gradients in the swiss inner alpine valais |
| topic | ground thermal regime elevational gradient slope aspect land cover mountains |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1742022 |
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