Guidelines for Successful Soil Temperature Monitoring

Soil temperature monitoring is the recording of the temperature of soil at specific levels below the surface. Although natural radioactivity and conduction from the earth’s core contribute small quantities of heat, the main drivers affecting soil temperature in the upper meters come from solar radiation and heat exchanges at the surface (AES, 1978).

This heat process is dependent upon seasons, cloud cover, plant cover and physical soil properties such as soil type, compaction and moisture content (AES, 1978). As atmospheric processes are reflected in soil temperatures, tracking soil temperature can be a valuable variable in monitoring climate change.

This white paper will discuss how soil temperatures differ according to forest type as well as its influence on insects, wildlife and vegetation.