Thermal conductivity is the time rate of heat transfer by conductance through unit thickness across a unit area due to a unit temperature difference; the unit used is Cal cm −1 s −1 °C −1. Since the soil is made up of granulated solids, between which are voids filled with water, air, or both, its thermal conductivity depends on the volume fraction and thermal conductivity of each of its constituents. Moreover, the size, shape, mode of the solid particles arrangement (see Structure ), and consequently the solid‐water interfacial relationship affect the soil thermal conductivity. Table C21 gives values of thermal conductivity for the various soil constituents and soils.
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Chesworth, W. et al. (2008). Conductivity, Thermal. In: Chesworth, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Soil Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3995-9_126
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