Non-equilibrium processes during infiltration into structured soil

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Hans-Jörg Vogel
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Hydrogeologie, Hydrologie, Limnologie, Siedlungswasserwirtschaft, Wasserchemie, Integrierte Wasserressourcen-Bewirtschaftung
• Förderung: Förderung von 2008 bis 2015
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 66234063

This project builds up on the key findings during the first period: i) the development of a new experimental approach (Multi-Step-Flux experiment - MSF) to directly measure hydraulic non-equilibrium during transient flow conditions and ii) the recognition that the degree of hydraulic non-equilibrium is rather a gradual feature than threshold like process controlled by structural soil properties and the external forcing. In continuation we focus in the second period on i) the development of an effective 1D modeling approach to include hydraulic non-equilibrium in a model framework based on Richards equation, ii) the estimation of hydraulic heterogeneity which is deemed to be critical for the degree of non-equilibrium and iii) the experimental evaluation of solute transport during transient states of infiltration. As in the first project period, the aim is to improve modeling concepts including hydraulic non-equilibrium and preferential flow while the required parameterizations are based on observable quantities of soil heterogeneity and atmospheric boundary conditions.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsgruppen
• Teilprojekt zu: FOR 1083: Multi-Scale Interfaces in Unsaturated Soil (MUSIS)