Premium
Fingered flow in two dimensions: 1. Measurement of matric potential
Author(s) -
Selker J.,
Leclerq P.,
Parlange J.Y.,
Steenhuis T.
Publication year - 1992
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 - 10.1029/92wr00963
Subject(s) - infiltration (hvac) , water potential , planar , flow (mathematics) , geotechnical engineering , mechanics , soil water , soil science , environmental science , geology , meteorology , physics , computer science , computer graphics (images)
Precise management of the changing matric potential during infiltration into unsaturated soil required the development of miniature, high‐speed, planar tensiometers. A novel design was developed, with response time of less than 1 s. The applicability of the devices is shown through measurements of the matric potential in growing instabilities, both in the induction zone and along the vertical finger profile. Tensiometry is demonstrated to be a practical method of obtaining data with high temporal and spatial resolution for the study of dynamic flow fields and facilitates testing of theoretical results for unstable flow fields.