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06 Introduction To Infiltration

The document discusses infiltration, which is the flow of water into the ground through the soil surface. It defines infiltration and describes its significance in recharging groundwater and maintaining soil moisture. The document also discusses factors that affect infiltration and different methods to measure infiltration rates, including using infiltrometers and analyzing hydrographs.

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Sonny Mae Tubo
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29 views17 pages

06 Introduction To Infiltration

The document discusses infiltration, which is the flow of water into the ground through the soil surface. It defines infiltration and describes its significance in recharging groundwater and maintaining soil moisture. The document also discusses factors that affect infiltration and different methods to measure infiltration rates, including using infiltrometers and analyzing hydrographs.

Uploaded by

Sonny Mae Tubo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INFILTRATION

DEFINITION

 Infiltration
-the flow of water into the ground through the soil surface
-the downward entry of water into the soil or rock surface

Unit: usually inches per hour or millimeters per hour


SIGNIFICANCE OF INFILTRATION

 Recharging groundwater
 Maintaining soil moisture
 Reducing surface runoff
 Purifying water
 Mitigating droughts
INFILTRATION VS PERCOLATION

 Infiltration
-the entry of water into the soil surface

 Percolation
-the downward movement of water through the soil or rock layers
FACTORS THAT AFFECT INFILTRATION

 Precipitation
 Baseflow
 Soil Characteristics
 Soil Saturation
 Land Cover
 Slope of the land
 Evapotranspiration
INFILTRATION RATE & INFILTRATION CAPACITY

 Infiltration Rate
-is a measure of the rate at which a particular soil is able to absorb
water.

 Infiltration Capacity
-the maximum amount of rainwater that can enter a soil in a given
time. (When this maximum is reached, the soil becomes saturated.)
MOISTURE ZONES
MOISTURE ZONES

 Saturated Zone
-The pore space in this zone is filled with water or saturated. Depending on the length
of time elapsed from the initial application of the water, this zone will generally
extend only to a depth of a few millimeters.

 Transition Zone
-This zone is characterized by a rapid decrease in water content with depth and will
extend approximately a few centimeters.

 Transmission Zone
-This zone is characterized by a small change in water content with depth. In general,
the transmission zone is a lengthening unsaturated zone with uniform water content.
The hydraulic gradient in this zone is primarily driven by gravitational forces.
MOISTURE ZONES

 Wetting Zone
–In this zone, the water content sharply decreases with depth from the water content
of the transmission zone to near the initial water content of the soil.

 Wetting Front
–This zone is characterized by a steep hydraulic gradient and forms a sharp boundary
between the wet and dry soil. The hydraulic gradient is characterized primarily by
metric potentials.
MEASUREMENT OF INFILTRATION

Different Ways to Measure Infiltration


 Flooding-type Infiltrometers
 Measurement of subsidence of free water in a large basin or pond
 Rainfall Simulator
 Hydrograph Analysis
MEASUREMENT OF INFILTRATION

Two types of Flooding Type Infiltrometers


 Simple Tube Infiltrometer
 Double Ring Infiltrometer
MEASUREMENT OF
INFILTRATION
Two types of Flooding Type Infiltrometers
 Simple Tube Infiltrometer
 consists of a cylindrical metal tube with a
sharp edge that is pushed into the ground to
a depth of several inches
 The tube is open at both ends and has a
known surface area
MEASUREMENT OF
INFILTRATION
Two types of Flooding Type Infiltrometers
 Double Ring Infiltrometer
 an instrument used to measure the rate
at which water infiltrates into the soil
 consists of two concentric rings, one
placed inside the other.
MEASUREMENT OF
INFILTRATION
Measurement of subsidence of free water in a large basin or pond
 involves filling a basin with water to a certain level and then allowing it
to infiltrate into the soil
 the water level in the basin decreases, and this decrease is measured
over time as water infiltrates into the soil
MEASUREMENT OF
INFILTRATION
Rainfall Simulator
 a device used to replicate natural
rainfall in a controlled
environment, such as a laboratory
or a field setting
 consists of a nozzle or a series of
nozzles that spray water onto a soil
surface at a controlled rate and
intensity
MEASUREMENT OF
INFILTRATION
Hydrograph Analysis
 A hydrograph is a graph that
shows the variation in streamflow
over time
 The shape of the hydrograph
can provide insights into the
amount of water that has
infiltrated into the soil
MEASUREMENT OF
INFILTRATION
Hydrograph Analysis
 Method that can be used to
measure infiltration, although it
is more commonly used to
analyze the response of a
watershed to precipitation events.
 By analyzing the shape of the
hydrograph, researchers and
water managers can estimate the
amount of water that has
infiltrated into the soil and the
rate at which it is moving through
the watershed.

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