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A System for Measuring Conductivity, Acidity, and Rate of Water Flow in a Forest Soil
Author(s) -
Cole Dale W.
Publication year - 1968
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/wr004i005p01127
Subject(s) - lysimeter , environmental science , hydraulic conductivity , water content , hydrology (agriculture) , watershed , water flow , soil science , flow (mathematics) , suction , volumetric flow rate , soil water , data logger , geology , geotechnical engineering , engineering , mechanical engineering , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , machine learning , computer science , operating system
An integrated system for collecting, recording, and analyzing data describing the behavior of water flowing through a forest soil has been developed. The collecting and recording components are located on a lower terrace of the City of Seattle Cedar River watershed in western Washington. This system includes tension lysimeters installed such that the overlying soil and rooting systems are undisturbed. The lysimeters are constructed from a fused aluminum oxide disk 11 inches (28 cm) in diameter. The suction to each lysimeter is maintained through a single controlled vacuum source. Solutions collected during periods of flow are passed through flow cells measuring conductivity, acidity, and rate of water flow. The sensitivity of the soil moisture flowmeter is in excess of 0.002 cm/hr. The electrical output from the flow cells is coupled to a data‐logging facility and printed as perforations in paper tape. Computer analysis converts these data to tabular and graphic form. Examples demonstrating the functioning of the system during periods of flow are presented.