Hourly ground temperature measurements from the highest shallow ground temperature monitoring system on Earth and sedimentological data were used to construct a thermal model at the Ojos del Salado, in the Dry Andes (5830 m a.s.l.). The results were used to investigate daily temperature fluctuations and the phase changes of water in the regolith, where the permafrost and ground ice are present. Model results reveal that the thermal evolution of the ground and the speed of phase changes are determined by the differing thermal properties of liquid and solid water, and change in their vertical distribution over time. At the start of summer, the increasing ratio of liquid water near the surface insulates deeper layers, and thus, melting is delayed and daily temperature fluctuations are damped in the regolith. The approach of the present study includes testing how simple, relatively low processing power required data analysis might be applied for Mars in the future. Periglacial and aeolian landforms were also surveyed, with a focus on thermo- and cryokarstic features, as previous studies have shown that patterned ground structures are rare in the region due to the highly porous nature of the dry regolith. Besides the wealth of aeolian features, gravel mantled megaripples, solifluction lobes, and thermo- and cryokarstic depressions, were found. In the case of the former, a close association with ephemeral ponds—hosting extremophilic microorganisms—was found, highlighting the fact that meltwater percolates horizontally even in this extremely dry environment. The thermo- and cryokarstic depressions also reveal the role of melting and its intricate connection to sublimation. As these features indicate degrading permafrost, closer investigation may provide useful analogs for earlier and contemporary climatic changes on Mars.

中文翻译：

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含冰地的热行为：地球上最高的冷干沙漠，作为火星条件的类似物，位于阿塔卡马-阿特普拉诺地区的Ojos del Salado

利用地球上最高的浅层地面温度监测系统提供的每小时地面温度测量值和沉积学数据，在安第斯山脉干燥地区（5830 m asl）的Ojos del Salado建立了一个热模型。该结果用于调查存在多年冻土和地冰的灰岩中日温度的波动和水的相变。模型结果表明，地面的热演化和相变的速度取决于液体和固体水的不同热特性，以及其垂直分布随时间的变化。在夏季开始时，地表附近液态水比例的增加使较深层隔热，因此融化被延迟，并且在硬脂岩中每日温度波动得到抑制。本研究的方法包括测试将来可能如何将简单，相对较低的处理能力所需的数据分析应用于火星。还调查了冰缘和风沙地貌，重点是热和冷冰特征，因为以前的研究表明，由于干粉煤灰的高度多孔性，在该地区很少有带图案的地面结构。除了丰富的风沙特征外，还发现了砾石覆盖的巨型波纹，固溶裂片以及热和冷钾洼地。在前者的情况下，发现与短暂的池塘密切相关，寄养着极端的微生物，这突出了一个事实，即使在这种极端干燥的环境中，融化水也会水平渗透。热和低温岩石的凹陷也揭示了融化的作用及其与升华的复杂联系。由于这些特征表明永久冻土正在退化，因此更深入的研究可能为火星早期和当代的气候变化提供有用的类似物。