2) (8 points) Tensiometers are installed in a soil at 0.4 and 0.3 m above the water table in a uniform sandy soil with the moisture characteristics and hydraulic conductivity curves given in Figures 8.4 and 8.5, respectively. One set of tensiometer readings indicates that the capillary pressure head at the first of these tensiometers in -0.5m and at the second is -0.6m.
a) Make a little diagram of the set-up. Determine the hydraulic head at the two locations. Does the water flow upward or downward?
b) Estimate the hydraulic conductivity in the soil and calculate the specific discharge using Darcy's law.
3) (6 points) Unsaturated
zone
a) The infiltration rate is often
decreasing during a precipitation event. What processes
causing this behavior can you imagine? (Identify 3 of
the potential processes).
b) Does
this have any implications for flood forecasting?
