Journal Article

PreJuSER-10168

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Comparison of heterogeneous transport processes observed with electrical resistivity tomography in two soils

Garre, S.FZJ* ; Köstel, J.FZJ* ; Günther, T. ; Javaux, M.FZJ* ; Vanderborght, J.FZJ* ; Vereecken, H.FZJ*

2010
SSSA Madison, Wis.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.2136/vzj2009.0086

Abstract: Preferential flow in soils can manifest itself in several ways. To illustrate this, we analyzed solute transport during a step tracer experiment in two soils expected to differ in their governing transport processes: a loamy sand and a silty soil. By combining electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), time domain reflectometry, and effluent measurements, we observed different preferential flow phenomena. The transport process was characterized using voxel- and column-scale effective convective-dispersive equation (CDE) parameters, local velocities, and leaching surfaces. At the column scale, transport in the loamy sand was dominated by a homogenous convective-dispersive transport behavior, but at the scale of the voxel, preferential transport was observed. Transport in the silty soil was considerably more heterogeneous. Preferential flow was identified using ERT, voxel- and column-scale effective CDE parameters, local velocities, and leaching surfaces. In these soils, a clear influence of soil layering on solute transport was observed.

Keyword(s): J

Note: We would like to thank Dr. Thomas Putz and Werner Mittelstaedt for the excavation of the lysimeters at both field sites, as well as Ansgar Weuthen, Normen Hermes, Ferdinand Engels, and Jurgen Holtkemeier for the technical design and support. We thank our colleague Michel Bechtold for fruitful discussions and help during the experiments. Th is project was financed by the Helmholtz virtual institute 'Inverse Modelling of Terrestrial Systems' INVEST.

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Research Program(s):

1. Terrestrische Umwelt (P24)

Appears in the scientific report 2010

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