IEM Daily Feature
Friday, 03 December 2004

Natural Freezer

Posted: 03 Dec 2004 08:15 AM


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Last 60 days of solar rad and 4 inch soil temps from Ames ISUAG.
4 inch soil temperatures (black line) have continued their seasonal decline and are now, on average, just above freezing. Nature's natural freezer works by limiting the amount of solar radiation by decreasing the solar angle and generating cold air masses toward the poles that frequent our area. Having a frozen soil before the first major snow is important, since it prevents the freeze/thaw cycle from damaging some plants.