Seasonal temperature waves in the ground, nonperiodic case

Abstract

Seasonal fluctuations in soil temperature at a depth of several meters are considered. It is assumed that the temperature of the earth surface changes strictly periodically. Then, according to the Fourier law, the soil temperature at depth will also change periodically with a smaller amplitude and time lag. What happens if we let the temperature on the surface deviate from the strict periodicity at some point in time? How will the nature of soil temperature fluctuations change at depth? Two types of deviations of the surface temperature from the periodic law are considered: 1) A sharp cold snap. For 30 days, the temperature of the earth surface is -30оC and 2) Warm winter. It is assumed that the temperature of the earth surface is zero during the winter months. Graphs of temperature changes at different depths in both cases are plotted. Conclusions are drawn about the duration of the period of noticeable deviations and the magnitude of the temperature deviation from the normal value.

Keywords

• temperature fluctuations
• soil temperature
• extreme weather fluctuations