Effect of macropores on soil freezing and thawing with infiltration

Watanabe, Kunio; Kugisaki, Yuki

doi:10.1002/hyp.10939

Cited by 71 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Simulation results are in line with the current perception of the processes and the limited data on water flow through macropores (Watanabe and Kugisaki, 2017). However, the model should now be evaluated and tested against measured data on the distribution of ice in macropore networks following infiltration into frozen soil for soils with contrasting macropore structure, initial conditions, and boundary conditions.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Water flow in macropores is often fast, and residence times in a frozen soil layer may be short compared with the time it would take to freeze the macropore water (Watanabe and Kugisaki, 2017; Mohammed et al, 2018). Under such conditions, the assumptions of equilibrium in temperature between pore domains is not valid.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effects of macropores on water flow through frozen soil have recently also been demonstrated in column‐scale laboratory experiments. Watanabe and Kugisaki (2017) studied water flow through initially air‐filled artificially created vertical macropores of different sizes. The exchange of energy between the frozen soil matrix and the water in the macropores resulted in freezing of the infiltrating water for macropores with a diameter of 2 mm.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Dual‐Permeability Approach for Modeling Soil Water Flow and Heat Transport during Freezing and Thawing

Larsbo

Holten

Stenrød

et al. 2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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Core Ideas Macropore flow may be enhanced in partly frozen soil. We developed a dual‐permeability modeling approach for frozen soils. Four test cases of increasing complexity were evaluated. Modeling results are in agreement with current process understanding. Measured data are lacking for a more quantitative evaluation of the model. Preferential flow may become significant in partially frozen soils because infiltration can occur through large, initially air‐filled pores surrounded by a soil matrix with limited infiltration capacity. The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate a dual‐permeability approach for simulating water flow and heat transport in macroporous soils undergoing freezing and thawing. This was achieved by introducing physically based equations for soil freezing and thawing into the dual‐permeability model MACRO. Richards' equation and the heat flow equation were loosely coupled using the generalized Clapeyron equation for the soil micropore domain. Freezing and thawing of macropore water is governed by a first‐order equation for energy transfer between the micropore and macropore domains. We assumed that macropore water was unaffected by capillary forces, so that water in macropores freezes at 0°C. The performance of the model was evaluated for four test cases: (i) redistribution of water in the micropore domain during freezing, (ii) a comparison between the first‐order energy transfer approach and the heat conduction equation, (iii) infiltration and water flow in frozen soil with an initially air‐filled macropore domain, and (iv) thawing from the soil surface during constant‐rate rainfall. Results show that the model behaves in accordance with the current understanding of water flow and heat transport in frozen macroporous soil. To improve modeling of water and heat flow in frozen soils, attention should now be focused on providing experimental data suitable for evaluating models that account for macropore flow.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Dual‐Permeability Approach for Modeling Soil Water Flow and Heat Transport during Freezing and Thawing

Larsbo

Holten

Stenrød

et al. 2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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show abstract

“…Many roots were found where the frozen layer was thin. This possibly supports the finding of Watanabe and Kugisaki (2016) that macropores can reduce the freezing depth by condensation of water in themselves. Furthermore, IRT was shown to provide information about the thermal status of the soil.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Therefore, a freeze‐up of a large fraction of the air‐filled porosity seems plausible without a detectable increase in soil temperature even with the assumption of a homogenous soil and full energy transfer of the irrigated water into the frozen layer. Because frozen soil temperatures were relatively high (approximately −0.2°C), refreezing of water in macropores is supposed to be a refreezing and blocking of some pores close to the surface (“plugs”) rather than a complete freeze‐up of the macropore network (Watanabe and Kugisaki, 2016). This process could explain the thawing in the upper centimeter in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influences of Macropores on Infiltration into Seasonally Frozen Soil

Demand

Selker

Weiler

2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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Core Ideas Macropores allow water infiltration into a frozen soil close to 0°C and at high water saturation. Connected biopores channel water beneath the frozen layer. Frozen layer thickness in relation to connected macroporosity is a crucial factor. Infrared thermography can be used to measure frozen layer extent and variability. Water frozen in soil can reduce the soil infiltrability, depending on the water content. We hypothesize that air‐filled macropores control the infiltration of a seasonally frozen soil under high saturation degrees. Sprinkling experiments with different intensities on a seasonally frozen soil were conducted in two winters at high initial water contents. Brilliant Blue FCF (BB) was sprinkled on four plots equipped with soil moisture and temperature probes to mark flow paths. Frozen layer thickness was measured with infrared thermography of soil sections and overlaid with BB images. The frost depth of the experiments was 8 to 15 cm. Infiltration rates showed reduced infiltration compared with unfrozen conditions. By impeding refreezing of the infiltrating water with added NaCl, infiltration rates of 23 to 29 mm h−1 were measured. Without the addition of salt, the infiltration rates decreased to 5 to 10 mm h−1, attributed to pore blockage by refreezing water. Temperature measurements revealed that the frozen layer only thawed close to the soil surface during the experiments. Blue‐stained areas indicated that water was channeled through the frozen layer into the unfrozen soil. In addition, the soil moisture probes below the frozen layer measured an increase in unfrozen water content, whereas total water content in the frozen layer was constant. These observations were explained by a connected air‐filled porosity, such as biopores, which allowed water flow even under high initial water contents. These results illustrate the importance of macroporosity in relation to frost depth in controlling the infiltrability of seasonally frozen soils.

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Soil infiltration characteristics and pore distribution under freezing-thawing conditions

Jiang

Liu

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Frozen soil infiltration widely occurs in hydrological processes such as seasonal soil freezing and thawing, snowmelt infiltration, and runoff. Accurate measurement and simulation of parameters related to frozen soil infiltration processes are highly important for agricultural water management, environmental issues, and engineering problems in cold regions. Temperature changes cause soil pore size distribution variations and consequently dynamic infiltration capacity changes during different freeze-thaw periods. To better understand these complex processes and to reveal the freeze-thaw action effects on soil pore distribution and infiltration capacity, black soils, meadow soils, and chernozem were selected as test subjects. These soil types account for the largest arable land area in Heilongjiang Province, China. Laboratory tests of soils at different temperatures were conducted using a tension infiltrometer and ethylene glycol aqueous solution. The stable infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity were measured, and the soil pore distribution was calculated. The results indicated that for the different soil types, macropores, which constituted approximately 0.1 % to 0.2 % of the soil volume under unfrozen conditions, contributed approximately 50 % of the saturated flow, and after soil freezing, the soil macropore proportion decreased to 0.05 % to 0.1 %, while the saturated flow proportion decreased to approximately 30 %. Soil moisture froze into ice crystals inside relatively large pores, resulting in numerous smaller-sized pores, which reduced the number of macropores but increased the number of smaller-sized mesopores, so that the frozen soil infiltration capacity was no longer solely dependent on the macropores. After the ice crystals had melted, more pores were formed within the soil, enhancing the soil permeability.

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Effect of macropores on soil freezing and thawing with infiltration

Cited by 71 publications

References 35 publications

A Dual‐Permeability Approach for Modeling Soil Water Flow and Heat Transport during Freezing and Thawing

A Dual‐Permeability Approach for Modeling Soil Water Flow and Heat Transport during Freezing and Thawing

Influences of Macropores on Infiltration into Seasonally Frozen Soil

Soil infiltration characteristics and pore distribution under freezing-thawing conditions

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