Application of isotopic information for estimating parameters in Philip infiltration model

Minimizing parameter uncertainty is crucial in the application of hydrologic models.Isotopic information in various hydrologic components of the water cycle can expand our knowledge of the dynamics of water flow in the system,provide additional information for parameter estimation,and improve parameter identifiability.This study combined the Philip infiltration model with an isotopic mixing model using an isotopic mass balance approach for estimating parameters in the Philip infiltration model.Two approaches to parameter estimation were compared:(a) using isotopic information to determine the soil water transmission and then hydrologic information to estimate the soil sorptivity,and(b) using hydrologic information to determine the soil water transmission and the soil sorptivity.Results of parameter estimation were verified through a rainfall infiltration experiment in a laboratory under rainfall with constant isotopic compositions and uniform initial soil water content conditions.Experimental results showed that approach(a),using isotopic and hydrologic information,estimated the soil water transmission in the Philip infiltration model in a manner that matched measured values well.The results of parameter estimation of approach(a) were better than those of approach(b).It was also found that the analytical precision of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes had a significant effect on parameter estimation using isotopic information.

Experimental study of relationship between average isotopic fractionation factor and evaporation rate

Isotopic fractionation is the basis of tracing the water cycle using hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. Isotopic fractionation factors in water evaporating from free water bodies are mainly affected by temperature and relative humidity, and vary significantly with these atmospheric factors over the course of a day. The evaporation rate （E） can reveal the effects of atmospheric factors. Therefore, there should be a certain functional relationship between isotopic fractionation factors and E. An average isotopic fractionation factor （ t~＊ ） was defined to describe isotopic differences between vapor and liquid phases in evaporation with time intervals of days. The relationship between or＊ and E based on the isotopic mass balance was investigated through an evaporation pan experiment with no inflow. The experimental results showed that the isotopic compositions of residual water were more enriched with time; tr＊ was affected by air temperature, relative humidity, and other atmospheric factors, and had a strong functional relation with E. The values of 0~＊ can be easily calculated with the known values of E, the initial volume of water in the pan, and isotopic compositions of residual water.