The main characteristic of soil temperature regime in the OhridPrespa zone

Liri Muaj,Eglantina Bruci Hydrometeorological Institute, rruga durresit Nr. 219 Tirana, Albania

Abstract
In this paper, the main characteristics of soil thermal regime over the Ohrid-Prespa zone have been evidenced. This has been realized studding annual course of soil temperature as well as their changes in time and different depths based on the mean annual and experimental data which coincident with the other theoretical studies. The relationship between the average air temperature at 2 meter height and the soil temperature in the different depths, using the simple equation of linear regression y=ax+b has been found. Also, the data of occurrences of extreme temperature go down to the depth as well as the coefficients of the heat conductivity of soil temperature K= /c around this zone has been evaluated. Based on the formula and well-known methods the generalized equations are fount out which express the changes of extreme temperature to the different depths. The aim of this study is also evidencing the potential possibility according to climatic conditions, especially the soil temperature in this part of the country. In this way we want to emphasize this possibility and to produce the opinion, how important is this climatic elements and how to manage that in optimal mode, in order to serve better the diurnal agriculture practices. Key words: soil temperature, heat conductivity, occurrence of extreme soil temperature in the depth.

Introduction
This zone, which includes a catchments of Ohrid-Prespa lakes is facing with the impact of humane activity which in continues way is getting up these recently years, especially in the Albanian part. Referring to the Albanian climatic division, this zone takes part on the hilly Mediterranean South zone, which characterized by cold winters and fresh summer. (Group of authors, 1974) The mean annual of air temperature vary from 7.5C to 12C, while the maximum absolute registered is 39.6C (July) and the minimum absolute one -14.5C(January) The mean annual precipitation vary from 600 to 890mm. The mean annual of soil temperature in the surface goes up to 15.0C To point out the main characteristics of soil thermal regime, we have to study of soil temperature characteristics, based in the data of the soil temperature for the stations around this zone. The mean annual soil temperature and the occurrence time of extreme temperatures in the different depths. The annual course of soil temperature expresses oneself the almost sinusoidal wave, which is determined by the amount and nature of periodical sunshine radiation flux. So, this course is characterizing with a maximum in the July and the minimum in the January months. (Shulgin A.M., 1972) Some evaluations about the main factors having the dominant influence on soil regimes in this zone are: Sunshine radiation. This is the main source of soil warming. The sunshine radiation in this zone varies around 1440kwh/m2/year with the minimum values 47kwh/m2 in December and the maximum one 208kwh/m2 in July. Relieve. In this zone the relief is hilly and plain. The type, composition, structure and the surface of soil. In this zone, the soil composition is Cl-SCL, predominating luvisol LV.

The insole soil surface, vegetable, corn, maize, fruit leftover in this zone have influence in absorb of sunshine radiation in the soil. Snow, this element is almost considerable.

Referring to the data given in the fig1, some main characteristics of the mean monthly temperature in the different depths and their amplitudes are given below. Apart from the soil type, the annual amplitude of mean soil temperature has a decrease tendency throughout depth increasing. This decrease goes up to 11C from 5cm to 160cm. A gradual increase of soil temperature up to 15-20cm is realized in the June month, going to the 160cm is shifted in the July. In the same way, the lower value of temperature up to 15-20cm is realized in the January month, going to the depth is shifted to the February. Starting from the middle of the March up to the middle of September that means during the warmer period the decrease tendency of soil temperature is evident going to the depth, (0.4 up to 10.7C). While from October to the march, so during the cold period, there is the increase tendency of temperature going to the depth (1.5 up to 6.2C). The inflection points appear when the warm flux change direction (middle of September & middle of March months) is accompanied almost by equalization of temperature in all the mentioned depths. The figure 1 shows very clear the existence of the spring and autumn isotherm.

35 30 25
depths

20 15 10 5 0 I II
0cm

III IV
5cm

VI VII VIII IX
40cm months 80cm

XI XII
160cm

Fig.1. The annual course of soil temperature in different depths. Pogradec As the above the annual course of soil temperature in the different depth, the realized time of extreme temperature throughout to the depth is transmitted slowly. In this frame of work the definition of their occurrence has practical interest. It is known that the soil temperature is the periodical function related to the time, because of the daily and annual periodicity of sunshine duration, so the definition of occurrence time of extreme temperature is easily to calculate by means of the periodic function dispersion. Based on the methods and known formula the generalized equations has been find, which express the changes of extreme temperatures throughout to the depth. These equations for Pogradec and Sheqeras are. (Muaj L., Hidmet 1980) Pogradec Txmax = 21.1+0.219x Txmin = 19.6+0.219x Sheqeras Txmax = 20.8+0.349x Txmin = 18.6+0.347x

Where Txmax is the occurrence time of highest temperature in the x depth and Txmin is the occurrence time of lower temperature in the x depth We can see the results in the table and figure 2 the course of maximum temperature in the different depths.

Pogradec Depth cm 5 10 15 20 40 80 Max/data 22/7 23/7 24/7 25/7 30/7 9/8 Min/data 21/1 22/1 23/1 24/1 28/1 7/2 Sheqeras Depth cm 5 10 15 20 40 80 Max/data 22/7 24/7 26/7 28/7 4/8 18/8 Min/data 20/1 22/1 24/1 26/1 1/2 15/2 Tab.2.The occurrence time of extreme temperature in 5,10,15,20,40,80,160cm depths. Pogradec & Lushnje.
Tim e of occurrence. Pogradec

160 25/8 23/2 160 14/9 12/3

200 150 100 50 0

depth cm

22 23

24 26

30

34 38 T.max

43 47

51 56

Time

Fig.2. The occurrence time of max temperature in the different depth. Analyzing this table is obvious the slowly down of extreme value every 5cm in the 5-20cm layer is up to 6 days. This is because of the active layer up to 20cm of soil is homogeneous with almost constant conductivity of temperature. While transmitting of the extreme value from 5 to 20cm is 6 days, and to transmit in the 160cm deep need up to 33 days. The heat transmitting to the deepest layers is depended by quantity of soil conductivity coefficient. This coefficient of heat conductivity (K) represents the temperature change of 1 cm3 soil, caused by passing of a heat amount in the 1cm2/sek. K= /c Where = heat conductivity = soil density c= thermo capacity volume Calculating this formula is fount out that the values of conductivity coefficient up to the 20cm layer have not visible difference, but going to the deep the values are going to increase. These K values calculated for our stations up to 10cm and to 160cm depths are. Pogradec K10= 2.4*10-3 cm2 sec-1 Sheqeras K10=0.8.*10-3 cm2 sec-1 K160=2.8*10-3 cm2 sec-1 K160=5.7*10-3 cm2 sec-1 Where: K10 and K160 are conductivity coefficients in the 10cm and 160cm depth respectively. As we can see, the value of the heat conductivity coefficient is smaller in the superficies layer (20 to 40 cm) of soil and going to the depth is increase. This fact coincide to the theoretic considerations in according with the course of quantity of the heat conductivity coefficient is going almost smaller or similar up to 20 -40 cm depth and going down to the depth this coefficient is increasing in linearly mode.

Relationship between the air and soil temperature.

The relationship between air temperature in 2 meter high and soil temperature in different depths, the simple equation of linear regression y=ax+b is used. Where: X and Y are air and soil temperature respectively. This relationship has been estimated through the correlation coefficients, which statistically resulted acceptable with the probability 95%. Finding a, b coefficients by mean of known methods we can calculate easily the soil temperature in the different depths, where the soil temperature measurement do not exist. The fig.3 represents both courses of the air mean annual temperature and of the soil in 10cm deep, which point out their good relationship. We can see in the figure two periods: one period during the warmest months of the year or more where the air temperature remains higher than soil temperature. And the other period (during the cold months) with the opposite course, the soil temperature remains higher than air temperature.
Air& soil temp. Pogradec
30 25

Air& soil temp. Sheqeras

25 20

temp.C

15 10 5 0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

temp. C

20

15 10 5 0 -5 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII

months

air temp.

soil temp.

months

air temp.

soil temp.

Fig.3. The course of air and soil temperature in 10cm deep. Pogradec, Sheqeras.

The minimal absolute temperature

The minimal absolute temperature in certain synoptical conditions in soil surface can reach very lower values, which may last for a long time and dangerous for the life of the root crops. The minimum absolute values of temperatures in soil surface are recorded in January month (-21.5C) and (-29.4C) respectively in the Pogradec and Sheqeras stations, while the negative values are present up to 20cm deep (-2.0C). Concerning the expected values of minimal absolute temperature in surface soil for return period once in the 100 year, they are expected to be 28.5C in Pogradec and 42.4C in Sheqeras. The maximal absolute temperature During the summer months the soil surface temperature can get the high values. The maximal absolute temperature is recording mostly within the July month up to 65.2C.However these high values in vegetation months of crops are not dangerous up to 20cm layer where these high temperature do not reach the values bigger than 29C. In the agriculture practice is necessary to know the expected values of maximum temperature, which are expected to be once a 100 years up to 70C in the surface and up to 31C in the 20cm deep. Conclusion The annual amplitude of mean soil temperature has a decrease tendency go down to the depth. This decrease goes up to 9.6C from 5cm to 160cm. High value of temperature realized in the June in the layers 15-20cm, and after that is shifted in the July goes down to the depth. Also the lower value of temperature is realized in the January month in the layers 15-20cm, and shift in the February goes to the depth. From the middle of the March up to the middle of the September, that is to say during the warmer months, the decrease tendency of soil temperature is exist goes to the depth. Contrary, during the cold months, from October to the march, occurs the increase of temperature tendency.

The values of conductivity coefficient up to 20cm layer have not visible difference, but going to the deep the increase of these values is evident. There are two periods in course of air and soil temperature: one period during the warmest months where the air temperature remains higher than soil temperature, and the other period, during the cold months the soil temperature remains higher than air temperature.

References
Muaj L., 1990: The main peculiarity of soil temperature in Albania. (Doctorate thesis) Groop of authors, 1974: Climate of Albania, Tirana Shulgin A.M., 1972: Klima povi i evoregulirovanie. Leningrad Muaj L., Hidmet 1980. Soil temperature and its conductivity on the depth. Climate variability over Prespa zone. 1997: Proceeding of the International Symposium Towards integrated conservation and sustainable development of transboundary macro and micro Prespa Lakes. 24-26 October 1997, Kora, Albania. Archive of Hydrometeorological Institute. Tirana, Albania