Vertical ground temperature distribution in some chosen ecotopes on Kaffiöyra (NW Spitsbergen) in the summer of 1989

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to show ground thermal variation in time (during the 24-hour period and from day to day) and in space (among ecotopes)during the polar summer. The study takes account of the surface part of the active layer (up to 50) in which 24-hour ground temperature variations take place. The mean 24-hour ground temperature distribution was elaborated as a background for the analysis of the frequency of gradients and types as well as subtypes of vertical distributions of ground temperature. The latter problem has been discussed on the basis of the typology comprising three types (normal, isothermic and inversive) that were divided into 4 subtypes each (Fig. 1). In the case of the I type, inversive subtype (c) was further divided according to the depth of inversion (5, 10 and 20 cm).