Modeling heat fluxes in macroporous soil under sparse young forest of temperate humid climate

SummaryThis research is focused on improved quantitative understanding of processes controlling the movement of water and heat below the land surface under natural vegetation. Special attention is paid to the advective transport of soil heat during rainfall events and the role of preferential flow in the soil heat transfer system. Transient flow of water and transport of heat were simulated using dual-continuum model with semi-separate flow domains representing the soil matrix and the network of preferential pathways. The model was able to reproduce quite well the measured variations of soil temperatures, and, at least in principle, also the measured temperatures of shallow subsurface discharge, closely associated with the preferential flow.

► Modeling movement of water and heat in soil under natural vegetation. ► Application of dual-continuum approach. ► Heat advection enhancement by preferential flow.