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Time domain reflectometry as a field method for measuring water content and soil water electrical conductivity at a continuous permafrost site
Author(s) -
Boike Julia,
Roth Kurt
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
permafrost and periglacial processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-1530
pISSN - 1045-6740
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1530(199710/12)8:4<359::aid-ppp261>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - reflectometry , permafrost , soil water , calibration , water content , geology , soil science , mineralogy , geomorphology , hydrology (agriculture) , time domain , geotechnical engineering , mathematics , statistics , oceanography , computer science , computer vision
Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is evaluated as a field technique for measuring volumetric water content θ and bulk electrical conductivity σ b in Arctic soils. Calibration measurements of θ and σ b were carried out on three different slopes at a field site in Siberia (74°32′N; 98°35′E). Comparison of θ calculated from TDR using two different approaches and gravimetrically determined water contents shows a close correlation. TDR determined σ b , applying theoretical relationships and a simple regression model, are compared with the electrical conductivity σ w of soil solutions obtained with suction cups. Best results for σ w are obtained using the regression model, with highest precision when probe specific calibration is carried out. In this permafrost setting, TDR can be applied to obtain quantitative estimates of θ and σ w in the active layer. The application of the regression model in different permafrost soils to infer σ w requires additional calibration. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.