REMOTE FIELD METHODS TO MEASURE FROST DEPTH

This paper examines the 3 common methods used to remotely measure frost depth: 1) soil temperature measurements, 2) soil electrical resistivity measurements, and 3) soil dielectric constant measurements. Soil temperature measurements are often made using thermocouples or thermistors. Specially designed probes are used to measure frost depth based on electrical resistivity. Inferences based on dielectric constants are usually made using time domain reflectometry. Frost depths based on soil temperatures are made equally well using thermistors or thermocouples. However, frost depths inferred from soil temperature measurements can be erroneous if the freezing point is depressed or if the temperature profile is essentially isothermal and 0 degrees Celsius. More reliable measurements of frost depth are made using electrical resistivity or dielectric constant measurements as the electrical properties of soil are affected more by phase change of the pore water than temperature.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0803126042
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

  100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700
  West Conshohocken, PA  United States  19428-2957
• Authors:
  • Benson, C H
  • Bosscher, P J
• Conference:
  • Field Instrumentation for Soil and Rock
  • Location: Atlanta, Georgia
  • Date: 1998-6-18 to 1998-6-19
• Publication Date: 1999-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 267-284

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dielectric properties; Electrical resistivity; Field tests; Freezing point; Geotechnical engineering; Measurement of specific phenomena; Measuring methods; Probes (Measuring devices); Soil mechanics; Soil science; Soils by frost condition or potential; Soils by properties; Thermistors; Thermocouples; Time domain analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Frost depth
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00794549
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0803126042
• Report/Paper Numbers: STP 1358
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 19 2000 12:00AM