Evaluation of the impact of rainfall on soil moisture variability

Chulsang Yoo, Juan B. Valdés, Gerald R. North

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The impact of rainfall on the spatial-temporal soil moisture variability is investigated by using a model of the soil moisture dynamics and two rainfall models, the noise-forced diffusive precipitation model and the WGR model. The study shows that the variability of the soil moisture field is impacted during the limited time of the storm period. During the interstorm period, the variability of the soil moisture field is closely related with the soil texture, as supported by the analysis of the Washita '92 data set. As the impact of rainfall on the variability of the soil moisture field is limited to the short time period of precipitation, the role of the rainfall is simplified as a source of water to the soil moisture field without any consideration of its variability and/or organization in space. A simulation study of the soil moisture field temporal evolution also supports this result, i.e. a strong relationship between the soil moisture field and the variability of its medium. Also, larger variabilities of the loss field coefficient result in easier removal of moisture from the soil.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)375-384
Number of pages10
JournalAdvances in Water Resources
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1998 Apr 15
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Rainfall
  • Soil moisture
  • Soil moisture dynamics
  • Soil moisture variability
  • Soil porosity
  • Stochastic model

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Water Science and Technology

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