Geographia Polonica (2004) vol. 77, iss. 1

Energy exchange in an active layer in the Kocioł Kasprowy (Tatra Mountains)

Jarosław Baranowski

Geographia Polonica (2004) vol. 77, iss. 1, pp. 35-44 | Full text

Abstract

The studies were done between 8th and 20th August 1998, in an area extending between 1820 and 1880 m a.s.l. (located in the altitudinal zone of alpine vegetation). The study location named Kocioł Kasprowy is the corrie on the upper part of the slope. The magnitude of the heat flux in the active layer was measured with a heat flux sensor of diameter 5 cm, placed on special stands close to the soil surface. The research showed that factors other than incident solar radiation having a major influence on the size of the energy flux flowing through the active layer are site exposure and inclination. The work confirmed that the frequency of occurrence and amount of precipitation influences energy conductivity in soil markedly, and hence also the size of the heat flux.

Keywords: Tatra Mountains, heat flux, active layer

Jarosław Baranowski [j.bar@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland