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THE TIMES REQUIRED FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF AIR‐WATER EQUILIBRIUM IN CLAY SOILS
Author(s) -
SIDES G. R.,
BARDEN LAING
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1970.tb01151.x
Subject(s) - soil water , diffusion , airflow , air water , water flow , viscosity , flow (mathematics) , geology , soil science , geotechnical engineering , mineralogy , thermodynamics , chemistry , environmental science , mechanics , physics
Summary The coefficient of diffusion of air through the pore water of clay soils has been measured directly and has been shown to be markedly less than for free water and to decrease with water content. It has been shown that these low coefficients of diffusion are not accounted for by the sinuosity of the flow channels, or by any important departure from Henry's law of solution at curved air‐water interfaces. The main factors appear to be constrictions in the flow channels and the reduced viscosity of the adsorbed water. It is concluded that air‐water equilibrium in partly saturated soils will be attained much more slowly than is generally assumed.