Detecting Macropore Fingering Using  Temporal Electrical Resistivity Imaging

Halihan, Todd; Hager, John P.; Guertault, Lucie; Fox, Garey A.

doi:10.13031/aea.14294

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Experimental durations were determined during the experiments based on the flow conditions reaching a quasisteady-state condition. Electrical resistivity imagery (ERI) was also collected during tests R2 and R3, which required the runon experiments to be performed for specific and extended periods of time for data collection (Halihan et al, 2021).…”

Section: Field Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the Importance of Preferential Flow in a Riparian Buffer

Guertault¹,

Fox²,

Halihan³

et al. 2021

Transactions of the ASABE

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HighlightsRiparian buffers and vegetative filter strips are uniquely susceptible to preferential flow.An innovative method is proposed to partition infiltration into matrix and macropore domains.Riparian buffer matrix and plot-scale infiltration experiments were simulated with HYDRUS-1D and VFSMOD.Preferential flow accounted for 32% to 47% of infiltration depending on hydrologic conditions.Preferential flow mechanisms should be incorporated into riparian buffer design tools and models.Abstract. Riparian buffers are uniquely susceptible to preferential flow due to the abundance of root channels, biological activity, and frequent wetting and drying cycles. Previous research has indicated such susceptibility and even measured the connectivity of preferential flow pathways with adjacent streams and rivers. However, limited research has attempted to partition the riparian buffer infiltration between matrix and preferential flow domains. The objectives of this research were to develop an innovative method to quantify soil matrix infiltration at the plot scale, develop a method to partition infiltration into matrix and macropore infiltration at the plot scale, and then use these methods to quantify the significance of macropore infiltration at a riparian buffer site. This research further demonstrated the importance of considering preferential flow processes in design tools and models to evaluate riparian buffer effectiveness. Sprinkler and runon field experiments were conducted at an established riparian buffer site with sandy loam soil. Trenches were installed and instrumented with soil moisture sensors along the width of the riparian buffer (i.e., along the flow path toward the stream) for detecting non-uniform flow patterns due to preferential flow. Riparian buffer parameters, including soil hydraulic parameters, were estimated using HYDRUS-1D for the sprinkler experiments and VFSMOD for the runon experiments. This research partitioned the infiltration into matrix and preferential flow domains by assuming negligible exchange of water between the soil matrix and preferential flow pathways in comparison to the magnitude of soil matrix flow. For these experimental conditions with 0.20 to 0.48 L s-1 of runon and initial soil water contents of 0.29 to 0.32 cm3 cm-3, preferential flow accounted for at least 27% to 32% of the total runon water entering the riparian buffer. This corresponded to approximately 32% to 47% of the total infiltration. While increasing the riparian buffer plot soil hydraulic conductivity in single-porosity models can adequately predict the total infiltration and therefore the surface outflow from the buffer, design tools and models should specifically consider preferential flow processes to improve predictive power regarding the actual infiltration processes and correspondingly the non-equilibrium flow and solute transport mechanisms. Keywords: Flow partitioning, HYDRUS, Matrix flow, Preferential flow, Riparian buffer, VFSMOD.

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Section: Field Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the Importance of Preferential Flow in a Riparian Buffer

Guertault¹,

Fox²,

Halihan³

et al. 2021

Transactions of the ASABE

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“…While light transmission focuses on micro-scale measurement, observations at practical scales are critical to better understand the factors controlling the initiation and rates of preferential transport in riparian buffers. Halihan et al (2021) evaluated the applicability of TERI to detect wetting patterns associated with macropore flow in a riparian buffer. TERI consists in measuring temporal changes in the electrical resistivity of a cross-section of the subsurface using a row of electrodes.…”

Section: Special Collection Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspective: Preferential Flow in Riparian Buffers: Current Research and Future Needs

Heeren¹,

Guertault²,

Mankin³

2021

Transactions of the ASABE

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HighlightsPreferential flow (PF) can critically reduce riparian buffer contaminant removal efficiency.This collection presents research on PF measurement, visualization, modeling, and contaminant transport impacts.Future needs include tools to identify landscape-scale PF areas and conservation practices.Future models for research and practice should account for PF in riparian buffers.Abstract. Preferential flow in riparian buffers can substantially compromise their effectiveness in reducing contaminants from overland runoff. The objective of this article is to introduce a collection of five articles on current research into subsurface preferential flow measurement, visualization, modeling, and impacts on contaminant fate and transport at scales ranging from the subsurface pore scale to the plot scale to the watershed scale. This collection presents selected works from a broader invited session on “Preferential flow and piping in riparian buffers” at the 2020 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Major findings include: new methodologies, such as light transmission and geophysics, to characterize subsurface preferential flow; an infiltration partitioning approach to quantify preferential flow from field experiments; a kinematic dispersive wave model to effectively simulate subsurface preferential flow; and the significant impact of surface concentrated flow pathways on pesticide fate and transport both upstream and within a riparian buffer. Future work is needed to develop methods and tools to identify PF areas and management solutions within a landscape, and to update both research and design models to better quantify and account for PF processes. Keywords: Best management practice, Buffer strip, Agricultural conservation practice, Filter strip, Macropore, Nonpoint-source pollution.

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“…Geophysical tools like electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) could provide signi cant insight into the behavior of macropores and preferential ow pathways in riparian soils. ERI techniques have been used by [8][9][10][11]4], among others in studying macropore ow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Temporal Electrical Resistivity Imaging (TERI) consists of resistivity data acquisition from the same location at different time intervals. It can be used to delineate macropore structure and/or locate spatial heterogeneities in soil wetting patterns caused by preferential ow through macropores, that are important factors to consider to optimize the design and placement of riparian buffers [10]. In a eld evaluation of a riparian area with naturally occurring macropores, the TERI technique could detect the wetted zone around a macropore similar to an area of increased hydraulic conductivity in a heterogeneous soil matrix.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a eld evaluation of a riparian area with naturally occurring macropores, the TERI technique could detect the wetted zone around a macropore similar to an area of increased hydraulic conductivity in a heterogeneous soil matrix. Halihan et al [10] detected wetted zones around macropores using TERI under simulated rain and saturated in ltration tests in riparian soils. They also highlighted preferential ow through macropore can occur under unsaturated conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Preferential flow velocity mapping of alluvial soil using temporal electrical resistivity imaging

et al. 2023

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Riparian soils are susceptible to the formation of macropores, which provide opportunities for preferential flow in comparison to the surrounding soil matrix. Temporal electrical resistivity imaging (TERI) can locate spatial heterogeneities in soil wetting patterns caused by preferential flow through macropores. Quantifying macropore flow properties is important to optimize the design of riparian buffers. In a field evaluation of a riparian area with naturally occurring macropores, the TERI technique is able to detect the wetted zone around a macropore similar to a high hydraulic conductivity zone in a heterogeneous soil matrix. An experiment was established in a coarse soil in North Carolina to evaluate if TERI datasets could quantify the hydraulic properties of both the soil matrix and the preferential macropore pathways. Results show TERI is a viable method for calculating the vertical fluid velocity along orthogonal profiles in this coarse-grained field site. The datasets allowed the distribution and hydraulic properties of the preferential flow pathways to be quantified over a two-dimensional plane that is comparable with traditional soil datasets.

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Detecting Macropore Fingering Using Temporal Electrical Resistivity Imaging

Cited by 4 publications

References 41 publications

Quantifying the Importance of Preferential Flow in a Riparian Buffer

Quantifying the Importance of Preferential Flow in a Riparian Buffer

Perspective: Preferential Flow in Riparian Buffers: Current Research and Future Needs

Preferential flow velocity mapping of alluvial soil using temporal electrical resistivity imaging

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