Long-term energy balance measurements at three different mountain permafrost sites in the Swiss Alps

• Published in: Earth System Science Data
• Main Authors: M. Hoelzle, C. Hauck, T. Mathys, J. Noetzli, C. Pellet, M. Scherler
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2022
• Subjects: Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Geology; QE1-996.5; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1531-2022; https://doaj.org/article/a4d3ebab24a346439fe088dbb76db199

The surface energy balance is a key factor influencing the ground thermal regime. With ongoing climate change, it is crucial to understand the interactions of the individual heat fluxes at the surface and within the subsurface layers, as well as their relative impacts on the permafrost thermal regime. A unique set of high-altitude meteorological measurements was analysed to determine the energy balance at three mountain permafrost sites in the Swiss Alps (Murtèl–Corvatsch, Schilthorn and Stockhorn), where data have been collected since the late 1990s in the framework of the Swiss Permafrost Monitoring Network (PERMOS). All stations are equipped with sensors for four-component radiation, air temperature, humidity, and wind speed and direction, as well as ground temperatures and snow height. The three sites differ considerably in their surface and ground material composition, as well as their ground ice contents. The energy fluxes were calculated based on two decades of field measurements. While the determination of the radiation budget and the ground heat flux is comparatively straightforward (by the four-component radiation sensor and thermistor measurements within the boreholes), larger uncertainties exist for the determination of turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes. Our results show that mean air temperature at Murtèl–Corvatsch (1997–2018, 2600 m a.s.l.) is −1.66 ∘ C and has increased by about 0.8 ∘ C during the measurement period. At the Schilthorn site (1999–2018, 2900 m a.s.l.) a mean air temperature of −2.60 ∘ C with a mean increase of 1.0 ∘ C was measured. The Stockhorn site (2003–2018, 3400 m a.s.l.) recorded lower air temperatures with a mean of −6.18 ∘ C and an increase of 0.5 ∘ C. Measured net radiation, as the most important energy input at the surface, shows substantial differences with mean values of 30.59 W m −2 for Murtèl–Corvatsch, 32.40 W m −2 for Schilthorn and 6.91 W m −2 for Stockhorn. The calculated turbulent fluxes show values of around 7 to 13 W m −2 using the Bowen ratio method and ...