For soils that freeze in winter, soil temperature is influenced by the release of heat when water changes from the liquid to the solid form. This releases about 80 calories per gram of water. The heat must be dissipated before the water in soil freezes. The rate of thaw of frozen soils is slower, because heat is required to warm the soil in order to melt the ice. In areas of heavy snowfall, the snow provides an insulating blanket and soils do not freeze as deeply or may not freeze at all.
Many factors influence soil temperature.
All of these factors may be described in a soil survey if they are significant.