Infiltration and drainage calculations using spatially scaled hydraulic properties

Abstract

Infiltration and drainage results are calculated for spatially varying hydraulic properties. The soil water flow equation is solved in a form valid for scaled soil water characteristics and unsaturated hydraulic conductivities. The single solution can then be utilized for individual sites chosen randomly by using a scaling coefficient. This procedure reduces repeated tedious individual calculations to simple algebra or interpolations. Examples include infiltration using semi‐analytical forms and drainage based on a single finite difference solution. Monte Carlo simulations were used in most cases.