Air and surface temperature modelling across a temperate mountain landscape: An investigation of microclimatic influences on surface offsets viewed within the context of epigaeic arthropod thermal habitat

Abstract

Development of high-resolution temperature models in mountain environments must include consideration of the influence of complex topography and seasonality on thermal distribution across horizontal and vertical scales. Small-bodied organisms, including arthropods, in montane and alpine ecosystems inhabit environments for which local microclimate and heat transfer is especially important. We developed and applied high-resolution air and surface temperature models for a remote mountain environment using in-situ data for interpolation procedures in ArcGIS Pro. This approach requires recording directional and time-period specific lapse rates to aid in the development of air temperature models. Also examined is the offset between air temperature and surface temperature and to what extent air temperature alone is a reliable indicator of ground-level thermal conditions. We describe an environmentally inclusive surface temperature modelling method that allows for the addition of explanatory layers (landcover, elevation, aspect, slope, and topographic position index) aiding in the interpolation process. These models are used to delineate thermally defined ecological zones and model unique thermal properties of relevance to arthropods across the southern Alberta study area.