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Water movement into seasonally frozen soils
Author(s) -
Kane Douglas L.,
Stein Jean
Publication year - 1983
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/wr019i006p01547
Subject(s) - snowmelt , surface runoff , infiltration (hvac) , environmental science , soil water , hydrology (agriculture) , loam , meltwater , water content , frost heaving , snow , moisture , permafrost , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , meteorology , geomorphology , geography , ecology , oceanography , biology
Many floods of record in cold regions are produced by snow ablation. Accurate prediction of snowmelt runoff events by using computer models hinges upon an accurate understanding of the hydrologic role of frozen soils. This paper discusses the redistribution of soil moisture that takes place during the development of seasonal frost in a silty loam soil and the infiltration characteristics of this seasonally frozen soil. Depending upon the total (water and ice) soil moisture conditions near the ground surface, a wide range of infiltration rates can exist. This disparity in the infiltration rate results in considerable variation in the amount of snowmelt runoff.