Seasonal temperature patterns and variability in salt marshes: Field study and numerical simulation

Soil temperature regulates biogeochemical processes and is a key environmental factor affecting salt marsh ecosystems. Previous studies on soil temperature and heat transport in intertidal marshes predominantly focused on short-term changes, leaving seasonal variations still unclear. This study conducted a yearlong field and modeling investigation to examine the temporal and spatial variations of soil temperature in a creek-marsh section under estuarine and meteorological influences. The porewater flow and heat transport processes were simulated using SUTRA-MS. The response of soil temperature to air and tidal water temperature conditions will be discussed here in detail. We will also discuss the impacts of tide-induced porewater circulations on soil temperature response. Finally, there will be a discussion on quantifying the thermal effects of tidal water and air on hourly and depth-averaged shallow soil temperatures in the creek-marsh system.