Soil temperature is a fundamental physical state variable describing the thermal regime within the soil profile as a function of depth and time, governed by heat conduction, heat capacity, phase changes of soil water, and energy exchange at the soil–atmosphere and soil–groundwater interfaces. It controls key biogeochemical and ecological processes, including root growth, microbial activity, organic matter decomposition, nutrient mineralization, and gas fluxes. Soil temperature dynamics are influenced by radiation, moisture content, texture, bulk density, vegetation cover, and snow or mulch layers, and are commonly measured using thermistors or thermocouples. In modeling and research, soil temperature is critical for parameterizing land-surface, crop, and ecosystem process models.
A study led by the UAB and the CREAF shows that the loss of nitrogen from Arctic soil not only deprives plants of a vital nutrient but also contributes, proportionally and irreversibly, to increased CO2 emissions. The study ...
Environment
Jul 2, 2025
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How sensitively does organic carbon stored in soils react to changes in temperature and humidity? This question is central to a new study now published in Nature Communications.
Earth Sciences
May 16, 2025
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