Articles | Volume 19, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4091-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4091-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Sep 2025
Research article |
| 29 Sep 2025
| 29 Sep 2025
Improved permafrost modelling in mountain environments by including air convection in a hydrological model
Gerardo Zegers
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth, Energy and Environment, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Masaki Hayashi
Department of Earth, Energy and Environment, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Rodrigo Pérez-Illanes
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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Short summary
This research showed that airflow within sediment accumulations promotes cooling and sustains mountain permafrost. By enhancing a numerical model, we showed that natural air movement, driven by temperature differences between sediments and external air, allows permafrost to survive. Our work aids in predicting where and how permafrost exists, which is essential for understanding its role in mountain water systems and its response to climate change.
This research showed that airflow within sediment accumulations promotes cooling and sustains...
