Soil Thermal Diffusivity of a Gleyic Solonetz Soil Estimated by Different Methods in the Brazilian Pantanal

Abstract

The soil temperature is an important microclimatic factor due to the interactions between soil and plant, and the energy exchange with the atmosphere. The soil energy exchange is affected by the incident solar radiation, type of coverage and mainly by the soil thermal properties. Among the soil thermal properties, the soil thermal diffusivity is highlighted because it affects the soil temperature profile and soil heat flux transport and distribution. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate different estimates of soil thermal diffusivity of a Gleyic Solonetz soil in the Brazilian Pantanal . The soil thermal diffusivity was determined by the amplitude, logarithmic, arctangent and the phase methods between 0.01 and 0.03 m , 0.01 and 0.07 m and 0.01 and 0.15 m depth. The soil thermal diffusivity estimated by the four methods showed significant differences and varied over the study period as a function of volumetric soil water content. The soil thermal diffusivity estimated by logarithmic methodshowed better performance at different depths, followed by the method of phase.