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Heat capacity of a unit volume of soil

Soil volumetric heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a unit volume of soil by one degree. Unlike thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity increases strictly linearly as soil water content increases. Volumetric heat capacity is also a linear function of bulk density.

To increase the temperature of wetter, denser soil requires more energy than to increase the temperature of drier, less dense soil, which has a lower volumetric heat capacity. This is one factor that can contribute to lower soil temperatures.

Symbol
$C_{v,soil}$
Unit
J/(K.m$^3$)
Formulae
$\zeta_{soil} c_{p,soil}+\zeta_w c_{p,w} \nu_{soil}$
Related
$c_{p,soil}$
Specific volumetric heat capacity of soil material [J/(kg.K)]
$c_{p,w}$
Specific heat capacity of water at constant pressure [J/(kg.K)]
$\nu_{soil}$
Soil moisture content [$\%$]
$\zeta_{soil}$
Density of soil material [kg/m$^3$]
$\zeta_w$
Density of water [kg/m$^3$]