Outward flux of vapour from frozen soils at Mayo, Yukon, Canada: Results and interpretation

Vapour outflow from frozen soil, as well as ground temperatures and moisture content profiles, were measured over the winter at two sites near Mayo, Yukon, Canada. At one site, where permafrost is present, outflow apparently ceased by late March, but at the other site, where there is only seasonal f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cold Regions Science and Technology
Main Authors: Smith, M.W. (M. W.), Burn, C. (Christopher R.)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 1987
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/914
https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-232X(87)90052-8
Description
Summary:Vapour outflow from frozen soil, as well as ground temperatures and moisture content profiles, were measured over the winter at two sites near Mayo, Yukon, Canada. At one site, where permafrost is present, outflow apparently ceased by late March, but at the other site, where there is only seasonal frost, flow continued throughout the season. Vapour pressure gradients were calculated from the temperature data, and diffusion coefficients for the frozen soils determined. These estimates are orders-of-magnitude higher than those reported in the literature. Consequently, an alternative explanation of the fluxes through frozen soil is given in terms of liquid flow in adsorbed water films along the temperature gradient.