Numerical modelling of convective heat transport by air flow in permafrost talus slopes
- Wicky, Jonas Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
- Hauck, Christian Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
-
06.06.2017
Published in:
- The Cryosphere. - 2017, vol. 11, no. 3, p. 1311–1325
English
Talus slopes are a widespread geomorphic feature in the Alps. Due to their high porosity a gravity-driven internal air circulation can be established which is forced by the gradient between external (air) and internal (talus) temperature. The thermal regime is different from the surrounding environment, leading to the occurrence of permafrost below the typical permafrost zone. This phenomenon has mainly been analysed by field studies and only few explicit numerical modelling studies exist. Numerical simulations of permafrost sometimes use parameterisations for the effects of convection but mostly neglect the influence of convective heat transfer in air on the thermal regime. In contrast, in civil engineering many studies have been carried out to investigate the thermal behaviour of blocky layers and to improve their passive cooling effect. The present study further develops and applies these concepts to model heat transfer in air flows in a natural-scale talus slope. Modelling results show that convective heat transfer has the potential to develop a significant temperature difference between the lower and the upper parts of the talus slope. A seasonally alternating chimney-effect type of circulation develops. Modelling results also show that this convective heat transfer leads to the formation of a cold reservoir in the lower part of the talus slope, which can be crucial for maintaining the frozen ground conditions despite increasing air temperatures caused by climate change.
- Faculty
- Faculté des sciences et de médecine
- Department
- Département de Géosciences
- Language
-
- English
- Classification
- Hydrology
- License
- License undefined
- Identifiers
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- RERO DOC 305078
- DOI 10.5194/tc-11-1311-2017
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/305984
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