Annual variations of ground and streamflow temperatures in small forested valleys

Abstract

Abstract Ground and streamflow temperatures and their annual variations in a small forested valley were investigated on the basis of observed data and a numerical model. The rate of heat exchange on the forested floor was shown to be proportional to the difference between air and ground-surface temperatures. Ground temperature in a valley bottom is greatly affected by the topography and the streamflow, and to only a small degree by the groundwater flow. Surface water temperature was computed from the ground temperature field in a valley by assuming a smaller rate of heat exchange in the bottom than on the slopes.