The potential use of soil moisture sensors for observing hydraulic redistribution characteristics
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Davis, TW
Liang, X
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A field study along a grass-covered hillside in south-western Pennsylvania revealed diel fluctuations in soil moisture measurements resembling hydraulically redistributed water. Further analysis of the measurements over a summer and winter season supports this finding. The observations are analyzed for possible influences due to soil temperature. Temperature influence on the EC-5 soil moisture sensor readings appears to be present at 5 cm in the form of a correlated pattern with temperature, i.e., an increase in soil moisture with temperature. An inversely correlated pattern, i.e., an increase in soil moisture during the nighttime, shown at 40 and 62 cm is present during the summer dry-down periods and absent during the wet winter season. Given the available data, it is likely that more than temperature is affecting the measurements. Significant amounts of water are found to be redistributed compared to amounts transpired (20–60%). Continued research on this subject is recommended.
Date Issued
2013
Citation
Journal of Water Resource and Hydraulic Engineering, 2013, 2 (3), pp.84-91
ISSN
2306-7705
Start Page
84
End Page
91
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Water Resource and Hydraulic Engineering
Volume
2
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2013 The Authors. freely distributed under the Creative Common Attribution License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/