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A grid refinement approach for a three‐dimensional soil‐root water transfer model
Author(s) -
Schröder T.,
Tang L.,
Javaux M.,
Vanderborght J.,
Körfgen B.,
Vereecken H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2009wr007873
Subject(s) - discretization , grid , a priori and a posteriori , transpiration , root (linguistics) , computer science , reduction (mathematics) , soil water , soil science , algorithm , environmental science , mathematics , geometry , linguistics , mathematical analysis , philosophy , photosynthesis , botany , epistemology , biology
Three dimensional soil‐root water transfer models require a fine soil and root discretization in order to obtain accurate results. This goes along with a considerable computational effort. One way of reducing the computational effort is the usage of grid refinement techniques. With such techniques irregular grids are obtained that combine the accuracy of a fine grid resolution with a considerable reduction in computational costs. As a consequence of plant transpiration roots take up water and large soil water potential gradients around roots are created. Especially in these regions a fine soil discretization is needed. The root spatial distribution can therefore be used for refinement of the soil grid, a priori. Simulations show that the accuracy is indeed maintained for a priori refined grids but with reduced computational costs as compared to regular fine grids. Comparison with a well recognized a posteriori error estimate strengthen these results.