Transient Soil Density: Measuring Change and Developing Models that Account for its Effects
Abstract
We aim to eliminate constraining assumptions about static soil density. Using thermo-TDR sensors that we have developed, it is now possible to provide co-located measurements of surface soil water content and thermal properties, latent and sensible heat fluxes, and vapor and liquid water fluxes. This work has been carried out under the assumption of static density. Independently, but with the same thermo-TDR sensor technology, we have also developed the capability to assess transience in the surface soil density. Using a novel, co-located integration of all sensor capabilities, we propose that there is a new opportunity to provide unprecedented information about surface properties and in situ fluxes without the traditional constraining assumptions on soil density. In turn, these valuable data provide a basis to develop and test a heat and mass transfer model capable of predicting transient behavior without static density constraints. Our specific objectives are to: 1. Determine the sensitivity of mass and energy exchange at the soil surface to transient density, and based on this sensitivity, develop a simulation model incorporating appropriate transient density-driven processes for surface mass and energy exchange; 2. Model functional in situ relationships between soil bulk density and hydraulic properties and incorporate the relationships into the simulation model to calculate transient density effects on soil water content and hydrological processes; and 3. Model functional in situ relationships between soil bulk density and thermal properties and incorporate the relationships into the simulation model to calculate transient density effects on soil temperature and heat transfer processes. Addressing these objectives provides an opportunity to advance understanding across the geosciences, strengthening analytical frameworks and improving predictive theory. Our work, guided by specific expertise on soil properties and processes, and supported with new measurement tools that we have developed, can remove a long-standing, universal constraint on land surface studies by the geoscience community.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1610287
Entities
People
- Joshua L. Heitman
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- North Carolina State University
- United States Army