VZJ Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Previous Next 		Contents: May 2009, Volume 8, Issue 2   [Index by Author]  Supplemental Video
Down REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Down ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Down TECHNICAL NOTES
Down SPECIAL SECTION: UZIG USGS
Down ERRATUM

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To see an article, click its [Full Text] link. To review many abstracts, check the boxes to the left of the titles you want, and click the 'Get All Checked Abstract(s)' button. To see one abstract at a time, click its [Abstract] link.

REVIEW AND ANALYSISBack

Farag E. Botros, Thomas Harter, Yuksel S. Onsoy, Atac Tuli, and Jan W. Hopmans

Spatial variability of hydraulic properties in a 16-m-deep alluvial unsaturated zone was evaluated from core samples and multistep outflow experiments. Statistical and geostatistical analyses identified a hierarchical structure: field-identifiable geologic facies account for large-scale variability, while small-scale variability is characterized by variograms of hydraulic parameters.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0087
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 276–289 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]   OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

Gregory Schnaar and Dominic C. Digiulio

Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide may be an important component of the U.S. response to global climate change. There have been several studies specifically modeling subsurface injection of carbon dioxide, which are reviewed here. Previous studies may serve as a guide for modeling associated with management of future geologic sequestration projects.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0112
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 389–403 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

ORIGINAL RESEARCHBack

Nathan E. Derby, Francis X. M. Casey, and Raymond E. Knighton

For 18 years, a unique study was conducted on a 64-ha irrigated research site in southeastern North Dakota, in which an array of large lysimeters, groundwater observation wells, and subsurface drains were utilized to monitor nitrate leaching in response to irrigation scheme, crop management practice, and weather variation.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2007.0162
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 290–300 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Jianting Zhu and Dongmin Sun

Identifying effective soil hydraulic properties for large-scale hydrologic processes in heterogeneous landscapes is challenging. We determined the effective property schemes most suitable to represent the average behavior of large-scale infiltration processes, and assessed the sensitivity of the effective parameters to the time frame of the process.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0004
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 301–309 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Timothy R. Green, Gale H. Dunn, Robert H. Erskine, Jose D. Salas, and Lajpat R. Ahuja

Quasi-steady infiltration rates and terrain attributes displayed monofractal and multifractal scaling behaviors, but the exponents changed with domain size. The apparent spatial persistence in infiltration peaked at hillslope scales (about 200 m). We used dense (5-m), accurate terrain attributes as proxy spatial data and found similar behaviors.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0021
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 310–320 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Molly M. Gribb, Irina Forkutsa, Aleshia Hansen, David G. Chandler, and James P. McNamara

In this study, we showed that the performance of commonly used pedotransfer functions for estimating unsaturated soil hydraulic properties can be dramatically improved by constraining the moisture content range by minimum and maximum moisture contents measured in the field. Simulations of moisture dynamics demonstrate the usefulness of this approach.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0088
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 321–331 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Katja Emmerich, Gerhard Kemper, Franz Königer, Stefan Schlaeger, Matthias Gruner, Wolfgang Gaßner, Martin Hofmann, Rolf Nüesch, and Rainer Schuhmann

Inhomogeneous moisture transport reduces sealing of geotechnical barriers. Sealing systems of bentonite and sandwiched equipotential layers support homogeneous swelling independent of formation water. Results on moisture distribution and mineral reactions during hydration of a semi-technical- scale experiment with rock salt brine proved functionality.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0094
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 332–342 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Scott R. Nellis, Hongkyu Yoon, Charles J. Werth, Mart Oostrom, and Albert J. Valocchi

Major additive components to organic mixtures caused a significant lowering of the interfacial tension and surface tension of the equilibrated aqueous phase, but had minimal effect on the surface tension of the nonaqueous-phase liquid. The composition of the organic mixtures is expected to change with time, resulting in spreading in water-wetting porous media.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0104
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 343–351 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Benjamin Belfort, Fanilo Ramasomanana, Anis Younes, and François Lehmann

Mixed hybrid finite element (MHFE) methods have become popular in recent years for modeling groundwater flow. In this study, a mass-lumping procedure was developed to avoid unphysical oscillations obtained with the standard MHFE scheme. Efficiency of this formulation was demonstrated for the simulation of sharp infiltration fronts in the vadose zone.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0108
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 352–362 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

D. Canone, M. Previati, S. Ferraris, and R. Haverkamp

A new time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe was developed. It is suitable for water content measurement in loose material, like forest litter or crop residue. It couples ease of insertion with a homogeneous energy field. Laboratory data taken in sand and in four different decomposed and undecomposed forest litters showed better results than with a traditional TDR probe.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0110
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 363–372 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Kevin G. Mumford, James E. Smith, and Sarah E. Dickson

Spontaneous gas-phase expansion above a 1,1,1-TCA pool was observed in a 2D flow cell packed with 1.1-mm sand. Observations of discontinuous, macroscopic gas fingers created by the mass transfer of volatile DNAPL provide valuable information for incorporating discontinuous gas phases in conceptual and mathematical models of DNAPL source zones.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0044
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 404–410 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Video]  

TECHNICAL NOTESBack

Chiu-Shia Fen, Yunkuen Huang, and Jiann-Long Chen

For gas-phase diffusion in silica-flour systems with certain intrinsic permeabilities at water saturations lower than 75%, this study shows that Knudsen diffusion is negligible and the diffusibility factor value is more than 10 times smaller than the values estimated by other diffusibility correlations published in the literature.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0011
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 373–382 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Dale Rucker

Time series measurements of electrical voltage are used to estimate the velocity of an infiltrating wetting front from the surface. Simplifying assumptions include a Green-Ampt soil and a two layer electrical resistivity model. If cumulative volume of infiltrating water is known, an estimate of the wet hydraulic conductivity can be made.
Published online 14 April 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0080
Vadose Zone J Apr 14 2009: 383–388 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

SPECIAL SECTION: UZIG USGSBack

John R. Nimmo, Brian J. Andraski, and Rafael Muñoz-Carpena

Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0185
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 411–413 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Carlos G. Ochoa, Alexander G. Fernald, Steven J. Guldan, and Manoj K. Shukla

Aquifer recharge from irrigation is important in arid regions. Characterizing water movement through the soil surface-vadose zone-aquifer continuum in response to surface irrigation contributes toward a better understanding of the surface water and shallow groundwater interactions in an irrigated valley of the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0059
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 414–425 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Prabhakar Singh, Joan Q. Wu, Donald K. McCool, Shuhui Dun, Chun-Hsu Lin, and John R. Morse

Soil freeze and thaw, together with tillage practices, influence surface runoff and soil erosion. We present results from a field investigation and WEPP simulation of winter hydrology and erosion processes under two contrasting tillage practices in the Palouse region of the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0061
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 426–436 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

A. Ritter, C. M. Regalado, and R. Muñoz-Carpena

Dynamic factor analysis, an innovative multivariate technique, was used to identify how hydrologic fluxes explain the topsoil water dynamics in a humid, subtropical forest. Throughfall plus rain dripping from the canopy, and not fog water deposition, dominated the dynamics.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0054
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 437–449 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

C. A. Garcia, B. J. Andraski, D. A. Stonestrom, C. A. Cooper, M. J. Johnson, R. L. Michel, and S. W. Wheatcraft

Tritium fluxes to the atmosphere adjacent to a low-level radioactive waste facility were quantified by combining tritiated water vapor concentrations in plants and soil with evapotranspiration (ET) fluxes. Desert ET removed a total tritium mass of 1.5 mg from the 0.76-square-kilometer study area in 2 years, equating to 0.002% of facility-disposed tritium.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0022
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 450–461 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

K. E. Schulte, S. L. Heng, P. J. Culligan, and J. T. Germaine

Sorptivity is a parameter that quantifies the effect of capillarity on liquid infiltration. A scaling analysis was utilized to explore the constancy of a singular, dimensionless value of intrinsic sorptivity and an accompanying dimensionless Boltzmann transformation that are independent of a system's attributes for Miller-similar materials.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0073
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 462–469 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

L. Gowdish and R. Muñoz-Carpena

An improved conceptual physically based Green-Ampt with Redistribution infiltration method was developed as an attractive alternative to demanding Richards' solutions. A new redistribution coefficient based on saturated hydraulic conductivity and order and duration of redistribution events allows accurate infiltration and soil water predictions.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0049
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 470–479 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

John R. Nimmo, Kim S. Perkins, Kevin M. Schmidt, David M. Miller, Jonathan D. Stock, and Kamini Singha

We conducted a field evaluation of the effects of pedogenic development on soil water properties. Heterogeneity of properties generally increase with pedogenic development, although with evidence that some early-stage developmental processes promote uniformity. Pedogenically altered properties affect the soil's ability to sustain particular plant species.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0052
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 480–495 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Benjamin B. Mirus, Kim S. Perkins, John R. Nimmo, and Kamini Singha

An inverse modeling framework is developed, accounting for the lateral spreading inherent during ponded infiltration experiments. Effective soil hydraulic properties are estimated for three alluvial deposits with differing degrees of pedogenesis. These will inform the future parameterization of a landscape-scale model of soil moisture dynamics.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0051
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 496–509 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Philip H. Stauffer, Jasper A. Vrugt, H. Jake Turin, Carl W. Gable, and Wendy E. Soll

Parameter solution spaces can be very complex even for simple vadose zone problems. Using field tracer data as ground truth, the authors find many parameter combinations that lead to acceptable solutions. By reducing parameter bounds based on measured data, the solution space is narrowed significantly, leading to surprising results.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0055
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 510–522 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Jordi Figueras and Molly M. Gribb

A fully automated test apparatus for direct measurement of the soil moisture retention curve, or indirect estimation of retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curves, is presented. The system uses National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW software to provide a user-friendly platform for rapid implementation by the scientific community.
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2008.0016
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 523–529 [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

ERRATUMBack

Deniz I. Demirkanli, Fred J. Molz, Daniel I. Kaplan, and Robert A. Fjeld
A Fully Transient Model for Long-Term Plutonium Transport in the Savannah River Site Vadose Zone: Root Water Uptake
Published online 21 May 2009; doi: 10.2136/vzj2007.0134er
Vadose Zone J May 21 2009: 530 [Full Text] [PDF]  

To see an article, click its [Full Text] link. To review many abstracts, check the boxes to the left of the titles you want, and click the 'Get All Checked Abstract(s)' button. To see one abstract at a time, click its [Abstract] link.

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