Permafrost Distribution in Irregular Terrain

这项研究是开发一种数学模型的第一步，该模型将预测大面积(数百和数千平方英里)不规则地形地区的永久冻土(永久冻土)的分布。现在只能通过在野外进行昂贵且耗时的钻探和地下温度测量来确定永久冻土的分布，这一过程在崎岖的地形中尤其难以实现。Nelson和Outcalt教授正在开发一种方法，将冰冻和融化程度-日总量的地形气候(近地面水平)测量与永久冻土的发生联系起来。如果他们成功地准确地测量了地形气候并建立了这种关系，就可以从容易获得的地形气候测量中推断出永久冻土的出现。我们对多年冻土形成和发生所涉及的基本过程的了解也将增加。他们长期项目的第一阶段将在实验室和现场条件下测试他们的仪器和测量结果。

This research is a first step toward developing a mathematical model that will predict the distribution of permanently frozen soil (permafrost) in areas of irregular terrain over large areas (hundreds and thousands of square miles). Permafrost distribution can now be determined only by expensive and time-consuming boring and subsurface temperature measurements in the field, processes which are especially refractory in rugged terrain. Professors Nelson and Outcalt are developing a means for linking topoclimatic (near-ground-level) measurements of freezing and thawing degree-day sums to the occurrence of permafrost. If they are successful in measuring topoclimate accurately and in establishing the relationship, permafrost occurrence will be deducible from easily-obtained topoclimatic measurements. Our understanding of the basic processes involved in permafrost formation and occurrence will also be increased. This first stage of their long- term project will test their instruments and measurements under laboratory and field conditions.