Unsaturated zone flow processes

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Abstract

Water flow in the unsaturated zone is greatly influenced by unsaturated hydrostatics (water content, energy, pressure, and retention) and by unsaturated hydrodynamics (diffuse flow and preferential flow). Important multiphase processes include the transport of gases, nonaqueous liquids, and solid particles. Numerous means are available for determination of unsaturated conditions and properties, both measurement (of moisture state, water retention, and dynamic characteristics) and through various formulas and models that are mostly empirical in nature, but in some cases incorporating insight into unsaturated‐zone physical processes. Applications to practical problems include models and techniques relating to distributions of water and energy, fluxes at the land surface, inputs, outputs, and fluxes within the unsaturated zone, all of which are frequently complicated by heterogeneity and preferential flow. Further scientific advance requires new measurement techniques and theoretical constructs that more adequately represent the important physical processes within practical modeling schemes.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Unsaturated zone flow processes
DOI 10.1002/0470848944.hsa161
Volume 4
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Publisher location Chichester
Contributing office(s) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description 24 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Title Encyclopedia of hydrological sciences, part 13, groundwater
First page 2299
Last page 2322
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