Estimating Winter Soil Temperature

[CW3]

Let's say you have a 24" pipeline in Utah. The frost line is 24" deep. Top of pipe is 36" deep. I want to estimate a worst case scenario soil temperature. Any thoughts or comments ?????? Websites that publish average soil temperatures...????

Thanks

 

[jester86403]

What is the lifespan of the project? If it is say 50 years or so you can try to find the average temperature for that many years calculate the average of them and add three standard deviations after you calculate it, that will pretty much be the worst case with only a tiny chance of worse ever happening.

 

[civilperson]

The heat transfer chacteristic of various soil types have been studied in conjunction with buried power lines. Soil deeper than 8 feet is usually assumed to be constant temperature year round. If the pipe line has an inherent temperature different than the soil then it will effect a temperature change in the surrounding soil. First estimate for natural soil at 60" depth would be 14 degree Centigrade on South facing slope in summer and 10 degree Centigrade on shaded soil in February.