Air, Soil and Water Research (Jan 2013)
Geothermal Dynamics in Vochysia Divergens Forest in a Brazilian Wetland
Abstract
Research involving the thermal soil dynamics of wetland areas has not yet been explored in a way that promotes a deeper understanding of the dynamics of this region. This makes it necessary for further studies to contribute to the understanding of this biome. In the present work, we studied the thermal dynamics of the soil contrasting seasonal conditions in the Vochysia Divergens Forest. The Fourier equation was used to analyze the influence of the thermal conductivity and thermal gradient on the soil heat flux. We determined how variable water content causes the system to behave differently in the four seasons, observing seasonality in soil when completely dry and when completely flooded.