USE OF GAMMA RAYS IN MEASURING WATER CONTENT AND PERMEABILITY IN UNSATURATED COLUMNS OF SOIL

Abstract

A technique for using gamma rays for measuring water content in columns of soil is described. Equations connecting gamma ray counting rates with soil density and water content are developed, from which water contents may be calculated in a column of soil once a preliminary measurement at a known water content and bulk density has been made. Some results of unsaturated permeability measurements made with this method are presented.