Minimum Temperatures, Diurnal Temperature Ranges and Temperature Inversions in Limestone Sinkholes of Different Sizes and Shapes
Air temperature data from five enclosed limestone sinkholes of various sizes and shapes on the 1300 m MSL Duerrenstein Plateau near Lunz, Austria have been analyzed to determine the effect of sinkhole geometry on temperature minima, diurnal temperature ranges, temperature inversion strengths and vertical temperature gradients. Data were analyzed for a non-snow-covered October night and for a snow-covered December night when the temperature fell as low as -28.5°C. Surprisingly, temperatures were similar in two sinkholes with very different drainage areas and depths. A three-layer model was used to show that the sky-view factor is the most important topographic parameter controlling cooling for basins in this size range and that the cooling slows when net longwave radiation at the floor of the sinkhole is nearly balanced by the ground heat flux.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 860018
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-40163; JOAMEZ; KP1202010; TRN: US200523%%34
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Meteorology, 43(8):1224-1236, Vol. 43, Issue 8; ISSN 0894-8763
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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