High Surface Soil Temperatures on Methods of Investigation, and Thermocouple Observations on a Wooded Heath in the South of Finland
- 1 January 1949
- Vol. 1 (1) , 6-28
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3565034
Abstract
This paper gives some microclimatic temperature measurements at, close above, and close below the soil surface. In Finland at a latitude higher than 60[degree] a maximum temperature of 63[degree] C was registered. The temperature is highest on burnt areas, higher in humus and litter than in sand, and lowest on gravelly surfaces. Vaartaja discusses various methods of measurement of temperature. Most ecologists are aware of the inexactness of thermometers and use thermocouples for microclimatic measurements whenever possible. In the present paper some sources of error in this method are shown and corrections are indicated. When a difference in temperature exists between the thermojunction and the wires leading from it, heat will be conducted to or from the junction causing conductivity error, the main error in thermoelectric measurements. This error often amounts to several degrees in soil surface experiments. Vaartaja gives methods to correct this error and also methods to avoid it. The investigations of Vaartaja are very detailed and give a comprehensive picture of the problems in thermoelectric measurements. The same problems have, however, been investigated by other scientists independently, which have shown that the conductivity error can be avoided by insulating the wires from the thermojunction, either with double glasstubes. (Krogh, 1948) or by plastic materials.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: