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An Updated Model of Induced Airflow in the Unsaturated Zone
Author(s) -
Baehr Arthur L.,
Joss Craig J.
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1029/94wr02423
Subject(s) - airflow , vadose zone , mechanics , permeability (electromagnetism) , air permeability specific surface , boundary layer , leakage (economics) , boundary value problem , environmental science , geotechnical engineering , geology , materials science , engineering , mathematics , layer (electronics) , chemistry , mechanical engineering , groundwater , physics , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , membrane , economics , composite material , macroeconomics
Simulation of induced movement of air in the unsaturated zone provides a method to determine permeability and to design vapor extraction remediation systems. A previously published solution to the airflow equation for the case in which the unsaturated zone is separated from the atmosphere by a layer of lower permeability (such as a clay layer) has been superseded. The new solution simulates airflow through the layer of lower permeability more rigorously by defining the leakage in terms of the upper boundary condition rather than by adding a leakage term to the governing airflow equation. This note presents the derivation of the new solution. Formulas for steady state pressure, specific discharge, and mass flow in the domain are obtained for the new model and for the case in which the unsaturated zone is in direct contact with the atmosphere.