Impact of Topography on Soil Conditions in Central Ohio

Energy movement is an important factor that is regulated by the planetary boundary layer. This involves the absorption and the release of energy through several means, such as conduction, convection, and radiation. The ground heat flux has a major contribution to the lower planetary boundary layer through the means of conduction. This flux measurement is integral for our understanding of the surface-energy balance and energy transfer at the Earth’s surface. Just as sensible and latent heat fluxes are affected by incoming solar radiation, the ground heat flux value also is a product of its environment. Soil conditions are a major contributor to this flux exchange impacts it differently based off their type, porosity, and natural environment. To deeper analyze this relationship between soil and ground heat flux, we will analyze what variables influence soil conditions, and how they impact this heat flux in different topographical settings. This, in return, allows us to gain a deeper understanding of how they regulate atmospheric conditions in the boundary layer. To analyze soil conditions in central Ohio and their relation to their topographical environment, soil temperature (109), moisture (CS616), and the ground heat flux (HFP01) will be measured across three sites in Columbus, Ohio: a wetland, an open field, and near a building to simulate an urban environment. This study aims to quantify the relation between soil temperature, moisture, and ground heat flux in the context of differing topographical environments.