Soil temperature (DP1.00041.001)

Soil temperature is measured at various depths below the soil surface from approximately 2 cm up to 200 cm at non-permafrost sites (up to 300 cm at Alaskan sites). Soil temperature influences the rate of biogeochemical cycling, decomposition, and root and soil biota activity. In addition, soil temperature can impact the hydrologic cycle since it controls whether soil water is in a liquid or solid state. Measurements are made in vertical profiles consisting of up to nine depths in all five instrumented soil plots at each terrestrial site, and presented as 1-minute and 30-minute averages. Latency: Data collected in any given month are published during the second full week of the following month.