Infiltration under two contrasting hydrologic scenarios in Texas /
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A&M University],
[2005]
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAK Trust copy |
| Abstract: | Investigation of infiltration provides insights about the flow of water and transport of contaminants through the vadose zone. Infiltration is governed by prevailing environmental conditions like soil characteristics, plant cover and geologic settings. The main objective was to study preferential flow dominated infiltration at two contrasting hydrologic settings in Texas. For the first study, artificial rainfall was simulated within a plot covered with juniper trees at a karst region of the Edwards Plateau and sub-surface flow was monitored using TDR probes. Sub-surface flow was simulated using HYDRUS-2D. Results demonstrated that sub-surface flow occurred in a tri-modal manner, consisting of flow in karst conduits, planar fractures in the limestone, and soil matrix. Both fracture and matrix flow responses increased with increase in rainfall intensity. During large rainfall events, water exchange was observed between the fractures and matrix. Dye studies indicated that fractures and juniper roots were primary pathways for preferential flow occurring within the plot. The model simulated flow characteristics like exchange processes and differentiated between preferential and conduit flow besides determining approximate van Genuchten parameters for each geologic unit. For the second study, tension infiltrometers were used to conduct infiltration experiments at six soil water pressures ([psi] = -0.2 to 0 m) in an agricultural field near College Station over a 21 month period. The aim was to determine steady infiltration rate, i[subscript]f, saturated hydraulic conductivity, K[subscript]sat, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, K([psi]) and unsaturated flux density [phi(psi)]. Moreover, the effect of varying disc diameters on steady state infiltration rates (i[subscript]f) was also studied. Results demonstrated that infiltration occurred in a bi-modal fashion consisting of preferential flow and matrix flow. Macropores and roots present in the soil resulted in gravity dominated flow at [psi] = -0.05 to 0 m for all experiments. Statistical analysis suggested that the soil did not exhibit spatial variability within the plot and the five different disc diameters had no effect on i[subscript]f. Statistically significant differences in i[subscript]f were observed between 0.2 and 0.24 m disc diameters at saturation over the 21 month period. The i[subscript]f values illustrated strong temporal variations based on natural conditions over the 21 month period. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | "Major Subject: Rangeland Ecology and Management" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Sep. 21, 2005.) Vita. Abstract. Electronic resource. |
| Format: | Mode of access: World Wide Web. System requirements: World Wide Web access and Adobe Acrobat Reader. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |