Open AccessElectrical Streaming Potential Measured at the Ground Surface: Forward Modeling and Inversion Issues for Monitoring Infiltration and Characterizing the Vadose Zone
Author(s) -
Sailhac Pascal,
Darnet Mathieu,
Marquis Guy
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
vadose zone journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.036
H-Index - 81
ISSN - 1539-1663
DOI - 10.2136/vzj2004.1200
Subject(s) - vadose zone , infiltration (hvac) , electrical resistivity tomography , ground penetrating radar , soil science , groundwater , geology , water content , aquifer , hydraulic conductivity , subsurface flow , environmental science , geophysics , soil water , electrical resistivity and conductivity , geotechnical engineering , computer science , radar , materials science , engineering , telecommunications , electrical engineering , composite material
Field estimation of the soil water flux has direct application for water resource management. Standard methods like tensiometry or time domain reflectometry are often difficult to use because of subsurface heterogeneity, whereas noninvasive tools such as electrical resistance tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, or ground penetrating radar are limited to the estimation of the water content. We present an electrical method that provides water flux estimates: streaming potential (SP) monitoring. This cost‐effective tool may help to estimate the nature of the flow process (infiltration or evaporation) in the vadose zone. We discuss interpretation strategies in terms of numerical modeling of both hydraulic and electric processes in the vadose zone and propose an inversion scheme that allows the soil hydraulic parameters to be estimated from in situ infiltration experiments.