Mathematical model of thermal transfer in frozen soil

Soil moisture is a resource for plant development and one of the main factors determining the choice and conditions of soil cultivation. Unsaturated soil (root layer) is a three-phase system of soil-water-air. Regularities of equilibrium and transport of soil moisture in this case are greatly complicated. If the mechanisms of moisture migration in unfrozen soils have been studied sufficiently and filtering patterns in frozen soils require additional studies. In this paper are presented the theoretical studies of the thermodynamic approach in which forces of different nature, collectively determining the behavior of water in frozen soil, are combined into one resultant. Analysis of theoretical calculations shows that the height of the water column, determined by the absorbing capacity of the soil and potentially affected by the runoff during the spring snowmelt is determined by the difference in the inflow of moisture from the snow and the rate of its filtration into the soil...