Ground thermal regime in the vicinity of relict rock glaciers (Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain)

Ground temperature data obtained from 2002 to 2007 in sites near relict rock glaciers in the Cantabrian Mountains, at altitudes between 1500 and 2300 meters is analysed. Snow cover lasted between 3 and 9 months and had a strong influence on the thermal regime. When snow was present, the soil was normally frozen in the first 5 to 10 cm, but daily freeze-thaw cycles were rare. In well developed soils located at sunny faces frost penetration rarely reached more than 10 cm. On the contrary in shady and windy faces with scarce snow cover, frost penetration reached, at least, 40 cm. In persistent snow patches the temperature was stable at 0 ºC, even inrelict rock glaciers, where subnival winter air fluxes appear to have been very rare.