How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM)
The freeze–thaw process controls several hydrologic processes, including infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion. Simulating this process is important, particularly in cold and mountainous regions. The Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) was used to simulate, study, and understand the behavior of twel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/2/52 |
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| author | Francisco Balocchi Ty P. A. Ferré Thomas Meixner José Luis Arumí |
| author_facet | Francisco Balocchi Ty P. A. Ferré Thomas Meixner José Luis Arumí |
| author_sort | Francisco Balocchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The freeze–thaw process controls several hydrologic processes, including infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion. Simulating this process is important, particularly in cold and mountainous regions. The Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) was used to simulate, study, and understand the behavior of twelve homogenous soils subject to a freeze–thaw process, based on meteorological data at a snow-dominated forest site in Laramie, WY, USA, from 2010 and 2012. The relationships of soil pore size, soil particle contact, and meteorological data were varied. Our analysis of the model compared simulations using metrics such as soil frost depth, days with ice, and maximum ice content. The model showed that the freeze–thaw process was strongest in the period with a shallow snowpack, with particle packing within the soil profile being an important factor in this process; that soil texture and water content control soil thermal properties; and that water movement towards the freezing front was especially important in fine-textured soils, where water and ice were concentrated in the upper layers. Based on these results, future research that combines a broader set of soil conditions with an extended set of field meteorology and real soil data could elucidate the influence of soil texture on the thermal properties related to soil frost. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:29:45Z |
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| id | doaj.art-45a6f51a844f445d823ebd654fd3962f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-8789 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:29:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Soil Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-45a6f51a844f445d823ebd654fd3962f2023-11-23T18:59:30ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892022-06-01625210.3390/soilsystems6020052How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM)Francisco Balocchi0Ty P. A. Ferré1Thomas Meixner2José Luis Arumí3Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 58721, USADepartment of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 58721, USADepartment of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 58721, USAWater Resources and Energy for Agriculture Doctorate Program, Universidad de Concepción, Chillan 3812120, ChileThe freeze–thaw process controls several hydrologic processes, including infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion. Simulating this process is important, particularly in cold and mountainous regions. The Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) was used to simulate, study, and understand the behavior of twelve homogenous soils subject to a freeze–thaw process, based on meteorological data at a snow-dominated forest site in Laramie, WY, USA, from 2010 and 2012. The relationships of soil pore size, soil particle contact, and meteorological data were varied. Our analysis of the model compared simulations using metrics such as soil frost depth, days with ice, and maximum ice content. The model showed that the freeze–thaw process was strongest in the period with a shallow snowpack, with particle packing within the soil profile being an important factor in this process; that soil texture and water content control soil thermal properties; and that water movement towards the freezing front was especially important in fine-textured soils, where water and ice were concentrated in the upper layers. Based on these results, future research that combines a broader set of soil conditions with an extended set of field meteorology and real soil data could elucidate the influence of soil texture on the thermal properties related to soil frost.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/2/52physical modelsoil frostvan Genuchtenhigh mountain |
| spellingShingle | Francisco Balocchi Ty P. A. Ferré Thomas Meixner José Luis Arumí How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) Soil Systems physical model soil frost van Genuchten high mountain |
| title | How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) |
| title_full | How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) |
| title_fullStr | How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) |
| title_short | How Soil Freezes and Thaws at a Snow-Dominated Forest Site in the U.S.—A Synthetic Approach Using the Soil and Cold Regions Model (SCRM) |
| title_sort | how soil freezes and thaws at a snow dominated forest site in the u s a synthetic approach using the soil and cold regions model scrm |
| topic | physical model soil frost van Genuchten high mountain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/6/2/52 |
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