Summary
This paper examines the relationship between energy balance and ground thermal regime over a variety of tundra surfaces in a low arctic environment. The Bowen ratio and energy balance data emphasized the dominance of latent heat fluxes over the freely evaporating terrain. The sensible heat flux was negative, owing to persistent surface inversions, and supplied energy for evaporation. The ground heat flux was minimal until July 6 and the major increase on that date resulted in a sharp rise in the rate of ground thawing. The deepest measured penetration (80 cm) was achieved in moist sandy soil, compared with 50 cm depth in adjacent clay loam, despite the similarity between Bowen ratios at both sites. Energy balance data do not account for active layer variations and independent soil factors appear to exert the major control on ground ice melt. The paper concludes with a discussion of Bowen ratios and energy balance at the study area vis-a-vis other snowfree tundra environments.
Zusammenfassung
Es wird die Beziehung zwischen Energiebilanz und bodennahen thermischen Verhältnissen über verschiedenen Oberflächen der Tundra in niedrigen arktischen Gebieten untersucht. Bowen-Verhältnis und die Daten des Energiehaushaltes weisen auf das Überwiegen des latenten Wärmeflusses über dem frei verdunstenden Gelände hin. Der fühlbare Wärmefluß war negativ entsprechend der beständigen bodennahen Inversion und lieferte die Energie für die Verdunstung. Der Wärmefluß im Boden war bis zum 6. Juli sehr klein und eine folgende starke Zunahme bewirkte ein jähes Eindringen des Auftauens des Bodens. Das tiefste gemessene Eindringen (80 cm) wurde im feuchten sandigen Boden erreicht im Vergleich mit nur 50 cm Tiefe im angrenzenden Lehmboden trotz der Ähnlichkeit zwischen den Bowen-Verhältnissen in beiden Böden. Energiebilanzwerte erklären nicht die Schichtenunterschiede und unabhängige Bodenfaktoren scheinen den größeren Einfluß auf das Schmelzen des Bodeneises auszuüben. Die Arbeit schließt mit einer Diskussion der Bowen-Verhältnisse und der Energiebilanz im Vergleich mit Untersuchungen in anderen schneefreien Tundra-Gebieten.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Addison, P. A.: Studies on Evaporation and Energy Budgets in the High Arctic. Unpublished M. Sc. thesis, Laurentian University, Ontario, 1973.
Ahmsbrak, W.: Summertime Radiation Balance and Energy Budget of the Canadian Tundra. Tech. Rep. 37, University of Wisconsin, 50 pp. (1968).
Barry, R. G.: Further Climatological Studies of Baffin Island. Inland Waters Directorate Environment Canada, Ottawa. Tech. Bull.,65, 54 pp. (1974).
Barry, R. G., and J. D. Jacobs: Synoptic Activity. Climate and Ice Conditions for the Summers 1971–1973. In: J. D. Jacobs, R. G. Barry, R. S. Bradley, and R. L. Weaver (eds.), Studies of Climate and Ice Conditions in Eastern Baffin Island 1971–1973. Occas. Pap. 9, Inst. Arct. Alp. Res., University of Colorado, 77 pp. (1974).
Black, T. A., and K. G. McNaughton: Psychrometric Apparatus for Bowen-Ratio Determination over Forests. Boundary Layer Met.,2, 246–254 (1971).
Brazel, A. J., and S. I. Outcalt: The Observation and Simulation of Diurnal Evaporation Contrast in an Alaskan Alpine Pass. J. Appl. Met.,12, 1134–1143 (1973).
Canada Department of Agriculture: The System of Soil Classification for Canada. Canada Dept. Agric., Publ. 1455, 255 pp. (1970).
Carson, J. E.: Analysis of Soil and Air Temperatures by Fourier Techniques. J. Geophys. Res.,68, 2217–2232 (1963).
England, J. H., and J. T. Andrews: Broughton Island — a Reference Area for Wisconsin and Holocene Chronology and Sea Level Changes on Eastern Baffin Island, Boreas,2, 17–32 (1973).
Jacobs, J. D.: Synoptic Energy Budget Studies in the Eastern Baffin Island — Davis Strait Region. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Colorado, 220 pp., 1973.
Jacobs, J. D.: Solar and Atmospheric Radiation Data for Broughton Island, Eastern Baffin Island, Canada, 1971–1973. Occas. Pap. 11, Inst. Arct. Alp. Res. University of Colorado, 13 pp, 1974.
Jacobs, J. D., J. T. Andrews, R. G. Barry, R. S. Bradley, R. L. Weaver, and R. D. Williams: Glaciological and Meteorological Studies on the Boas Glacier for Two Contrasting Seasons (1969–1970 and 1970–1971). In: The Role of Snow and Ice in Hydrology, Proc. Unesco Internat. Symp. 4, p. 1–12 (1972).
Jacobs, J. D., R. G. Barry, R. S. Bradley, and R. L. Weaver: Studies of Climate and Ice Conditions in Eastern Baffin Island, 1971–1973. Occas. Pap. 9, Inst. Arct. Alp. Res., University of Colorado, 77 pp. (1974).
Joynt, M. I., and P. J. Williams: The Role of Ground Heat in Limiting Frost Penetration. In: Frost Action in Roads: A Symposium. Road Research Report 1. Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development. Paris, 1973, p. 189–195.
Kerfoot, D. E.: Thermokarst Features Produced by Man-Made Disturbance to the Tundra Terrain. In: B. D. Fahey and R. D. Thompson (eds.), Research in Polar and and Alpine Geomorphology. Proc. Third Guelph Symp. Geomorph. 1973, University of Guelph. Geo Abstracts, Norwich, p. 60–72 (1974).
Kersten, M. S.: Thermal Properties of Soils. University of Minnesota, Inst. Tech. Eng. Exp. Sta Bull.,28, 225 (1949).
Labine, C. L.: Measurement and Computer Simulation of Microclimatic Differences between a Polar Desert Plateau and a Nearby Coastal Lowland. Unpublished M. Sc. thesis, University of Guelph, Ontario, 1974.
Ohmura, A.: Heat and Water Balance on Arctic Tundra. In: W. P. Adams and F. M. Helleiner (eds.), International Geography. 22nd Internat. Geog. Congr. Canada, University of Toronto Press, p. 175–176 (1972).
Rouse, W. R., and K. A. Kershaw: The Effects of Buming on the Heat and Water Regimes of Lichen-Dominated Subarctic Surfaces. Arct. Alp. Res.,3, 291–304 (1971).
Rouse, W. R., and R. B. Stewart: A Simple Model for Determining Evaporation from High Latitude Upland Sites. J. Appl. Met.,11, 1063–1070 (1972).
Sellers, W. D.: Physical Climatology. University of Chicago Press, 272 pp. 1967.
Soil Survey Staff: Soil Classification: a Comprehensive System. Seventh Approximation. Soil Cons. Serv., U. S. Dept. Agric., 265 pp. 1960.
Tanner, C. B., and W. L. Pelton: Energy Balance Data, Hancock, Wisconsin. Soils Bull.,2, 35 pp. (1960).
Tedrow, J. C. F., and D. E. Hill: Arctic Brown, Soil. Soil Sci.,80, 265–275 (1955).
Terjung, W. H., R. N. Kickert, G. L. Potter, and S. W. Swarts: Energy and Moisture Balances of an Alpine Tundra in Mid July. Arct. Alp. Res.,1, 247–266 (1969).
Thompson, R. D.: Climate and Permafrost in Canada. Weather,29, 298–305 (1974).
Vries, D. A. de: Thermal Properties of Soils. In: W. R. van Wijk (ed.), Physics of the Plant Environment. North Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, p. 211–235, 1963.
Weller, G., and B. Holmgren: The Microclimates of the Arctic Tundra. J. Appl. Met.,13, 854–862 (1974).
Mather, J. R., and C. W. Thornthwaite: Microclimatic Investigation at Point Barrow, Alaska. Drexel Inst. of Technology, Lab. of Climatology, Publicat. in Climatology,9, 1–51 (1956).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 9 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thompson, R.D., Fahey, B.D. Energy balance and ground thermal regime studies broughton Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biokl. A. 25, 251–272 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02321799
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02321799