Some observations on soil freezing in forest and range lands of the Pacific Northwest.

Abstract

It is well known that freezing and thawing of the surface soil and humus greatly affect their capacity to absorb water. Post and Dreibelbis (1) in Ohio reported that percolation was materially reduced or ceased entirely when the frost depth was three inches or greater. They also stated that "freezing of the surface soil undoubtedly has considerable influence on the base flow of streams." Lassen and Munns (2) concluded that the structure, penetration, persistence, and areal extent of frost are directly influenced by the vegetative cover, especially forest, and by snow, Observations in this region indicate that problem areas exist where frost has a decided effect upon runoff, In the hydrologic analysis required for the Columbia River flood-control survey, data on frost occurrence, character, and penetration are needed.

Citation

Hale, Charles E. 1950. Some observations on soil freezing in forest and range lands of the Pacific Northwest. PNW Old Series Research Notes No. 66, p. 1-17