Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory
The saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, is a fundamental characteristic of subsurface flow and the hydrologic cycle. However, direct measurement of Ks is time consuming. Recently, air permeability measurements at 50 and 100 cm of H2O tension, a relatively dry condition in coarse and medium‐texture...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Vadose Zone Journal |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2014.03.0029 |
| _version_ | 1797771396248502272 |
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| author | Behzad Ghanbarian Allen G. Hunt Robert P. Ewing Thomas E. Skinner |
| author_facet | Behzad Ghanbarian Allen G. Hunt Robert P. Ewing Thomas E. Skinner |
| author_sort | Behzad Ghanbarian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, is a fundamental characteristic of subsurface flow and the hydrologic cycle. However, direct measurement of Ks is time consuming. Recently, air permeability measurements at 50 and 100 cm of H2O tension, a relatively dry condition in coarse and medium‐textured soils, have been used to estimate Ks. In this short communication, we present a theoretical framework for relating Ks to ka(ϕ), the air permeability as a function of porosity, ϕ, under completely dry conditions. We used power‐law scaling from continuum percolation theory to develop a theoretical relationship between Ks and ka(ϕ). Our result, similar in form to a published logarithmic equation with empirical coefficients, gives a physical interpretation to these empirical coefficients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:36:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0277fe36cee4d60b974a86db6a05e1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1539-1663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:36:58Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vadose Zone Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0277fe36cee4d60b974a86db6a05e1c2023-07-27T06:11:05ZengWileyVadose Zone Journal1539-16632014-08-011381610.2136/vzj2014.03.0029Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation TheoryBehzad Ghanbarian0Allen G. Hunt1Robert P. Ewing2Thomas E. Skinner3Dep. of Petroleum and Geosystems EngineeringUniv. of Texas at AustinAustinTX78712Dep. of Earth and Environmental SciencesWright State Univ.DaytonOH45435Dep. of AgronomyIowa State Univ.AmesIA50011Dep. of PhysicsWright State Univ.DaytonOH45435The saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, is a fundamental characteristic of subsurface flow and the hydrologic cycle. However, direct measurement of Ks is time consuming. Recently, air permeability measurements at 50 and 100 cm of H2O tension, a relatively dry condition in coarse and medium‐textured soils, have been used to estimate Ks. In this short communication, we present a theoretical framework for relating Ks to ka(ϕ), the air permeability as a function of porosity, ϕ, under completely dry conditions. We used power‐law scaling from continuum percolation theory to develop a theoretical relationship between Ks and ka(ϕ). Our result, similar in form to a published logarithmic equation with empirical coefficients, gives a physical interpretation to these empirical coefficients.https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2014.03.0029 |
| spellingShingle | Behzad Ghanbarian Allen G. Hunt Robert P. Ewing Thomas E. Skinner Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory Vadose Zone Journal |
| title | Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory |
| title_full | Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory |
| title_short | Theoretical Relationship between Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Air Permeability under Dry Conditions: Continuum Percolation Theory |
| title_sort | theoretical relationship between saturated hydraulic conductivity and air permeability under dry conditions continuum percolation theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2014.03.0029 |
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