Different methods of infiltration calculation (modified from Wikipedia)
| Method π | Description π | Emoji Representation π |
|---|---|---|
| Richards' Equation (1931) | A rigorous standard for coupling groundwater to surface water through a non-homogeneous soil using a numerical solution. | π➕π |
| Finite Water-Content Vadose Zone Flow Method | Approximation of Richards' Equation emphasizing 1-D flow in homogeneous soil layers. | 1️⃣➡️π§️ |
| Green and Ampt (1911) | Method for estimating infiltration flux for a single rainfall event in uniform, well-drained soil. | π§πΉ |
| Horton's Equation | Empirical method describing infiltration rate declining exponentially with time till soil saturation. | ππ§ |
| Kostiakov Equation | Empirical method with intake rate declining over time according to a power function. | ⏲️➖π§ |
| Darcy's Law (Simplified) | Simplified method for infiltration calculation, often seen as too basic compared to Green and Ampt. | π§⚖️ |
Richards' Equation (1931) π➕π:
- Provides a standard rigorous approach for calculating infiltration into soils. It's computationally intensive and sometimes has difficulty with mass conservation.
Finite Water-Content Vadose Zone Flow Method 1️⃣➡️π§️:
- An approximation method that allows 1-D groundwater and surface water coupling in homogeneous soil layers.
Green and Ampt (1911) π§πΉ:
- Provides an excellent approximate method to solve the infiltration flux for a single rainfall event, especially in uniform, well-drained soil.
Horton's Equation ππ§:
- An empirical method describing how infiltration starts at a constant rate and decreases exponentially with time until the soil saturation level reaches a certain value.
Kostiakov Equation ⏲️➖π§:
- Assumes that the intake rate declines over time according to a power function, with a variant that adds a steady intake term to correct for zero final intake rate assumption.
Darcy's Law (Simplified) π§⚖️:
- A simplified method for infiltration calculation, often criticized for being too basic and missing the cumulative infiltration depth.
These methods provide various ways to estimate the volume and/or rate of infiltration of water into the soil, each with its own set of assumptions, complexities, and use cases.
