HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carlson, T. D. Articles by Brusseau, M. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Carlson, T. D. Articles by Brusseau, M. L. Agricola Articles by Carlson, T. D. Articles by Brusseau, M. L. Related Collections Soil Physics Water Content

DIVISION S-1—SOIL PHYSICS

Intermediate-Scale Tests of the Gas-Phase Partitioning Tracer Method for Measuring Soil-Water Content

^a Dep. of Hydrology and Water Resources, Univ. of Arizona, 429 Shantz, Tucson, AZ 85721
^b Dep. of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, Univ. of Arizona, 429 Shantz, Tucson, AZ 85721
^c Dep. of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science and Dep. of Hydrology and Water Resources, Univ. of Arizona, 429 Shantz, Tucson, AZ 85721
^d Dep. of Chemistry, Northern Arizona Univ., Flagstaff, AZ 86011

^* Corresponding author (brusseau{at}ag.arizona.edu)

Experiments were conducted in a well-instrumented weighing lysimeter (2.5 by 4 m) to evaluate the efficacy of the gas-phase-partitioning tracer method for measuring soil-water content. The method is based on the use of conservative (nonpartitioning) and water-partitioning tracers, wherein the partitioning tracer transfers into the water, which retards its movement with respect to that of the nonpartitioning tracer. This retardation is a function of the soil-water content. The volumetric soil-water contents estimated from comparative moment analysis of the measured breakthrough curves were compared with values obtained using traditional methods, including gravimetric core analysis, neutron thermalization, time domain reflectometry, and conversion of soil tension. The values obtained from the tracer tests compare favorably with the independently determined values. For the lower soil-water contents (6–7%), the tracer-estimated values were 98% of the measured values. For the higher soil-water content (15%), the tracer estimated values were 77% of the measured values. These results indicate that the gas-phase partitioning tracer method can provide representative estimates of soil-water content under the relatively ideal conditions employed herein.

Abbreviations: _w = soil-water content • CFM, trichlorofluoromethane • DFM, difluoromethane • SF₆, sulfur hexafluoride

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Li and P. T. Imhoff Water Saturation Measurements by Gas Tracers in Unsaturated Porous Media--Effect of Mass Transfer Limitations Vadose Zone J., November 11, 2005; 4(4): 1107 - 1118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Peng and M. L. Brusseau Gas-Phase Partitioning Tracer Test Method for Water Content Measurement: Evaluating Efficacy for a Range of Porous-Medium Textures Vadose Zone J., August 16, 2005; 4(3): 881 - 884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Brusseau, M. L. Brusseau, N. T. Nelson, and M. S. Costanza-Robinson Partitioning Tracer Tests for Characterizing Immiscible-Fluid Saturations and Interfacial Areas in the Vadose Zone Vadose Zone J., May 1, 2003; 2(2): 138 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]