Coarse blocky material is known to have a ground cooling effect compared to other types of unconsolidated surface material, which may have an influence on spatial distribution and conservation of permafrost. In the light of climate warming, this effect may retard permafrost degradation or exert prolonged ground cooling in general. To contribute to a better understanding of this ground cooling effect and potential influencing factors, the thermal regime of blocky surface layers of two comparable nearby relict rock glaciers with opposing aspects was investigated. Air, surface and shallow ground temperature at 1 m depth were continuously measured over a four-year period at nine locations distributed over two rock glaciers. The blocky surface layer of the SWexposed rock glacier exhibits lower and more heterogeneous temperatures than the NE-oriented despite a higher potential solar radiation. The data suggest a thinner or more discontinuous seasonal snow cover at the SW-exposed rock glacier, causing a more efficient winter cooling. The importance of air flow driven heat transfer as a source of cooling is supported by the data. Results illustrate thermal heterogeneities within blocky layers and the importance of the seasonal snow cover pattern in addition to topography and microclimatic variability in high relief terrain is hypothesized.
HighlightsWe applied single event auto- and cross-correlation to a karst aquifer.We made a simplified MODFLOW model of the area and applied the same methods.Results over sampled data suggest that single event analysis is appropriate.Numerical results show the importance of overflow location and heterogeneities.Both methods suggest an overflow location in the upper part of the aquifer.
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