Introducing Fractal Dimension to Estimation of Soil Sensitivity to Preferential Flow

Food dye Brilliant Blue was introduced as the tracer in a dye-tracing experiment to obtain dye profile patterns of sandy loam soil, aeolian sandy soil, percolating paddy soil and permeable paddy soil. The dyed soil profiles were then photographed and the photos were scanned into a computer. Edited with certain software, only the dyed areas were left on the profile photos, which indicted the preferential flow paths for water and solute transport. Fractal dimensions of the dye patterns were calculated according to Arnold's function. Soil particle size distribution was analyzed by pipette method. The regression analysis showed that there was significant relationship between soil clay content and fractal dimension D of the dye pattern of soil profile. Based on the experiment results, the possibility of introducing fractal dimension to estimation of soil sensitivity to preferential flow is discussed.

Numerical Simulation of Preferential Flow of Contaminants in Soil

A simple modeling approach was suggested to simulate preferential transport of water and contaminants in soil. After saturated hydraulic conductivity was interpolated by means of Krige interpolation method or scaling method, and then zoned, the locations where saturated hydraulic conductivity was larger represented regions where preferential flow occurred, because heterogeneity of soil, one of the mechanisms resulting in preferential flow, could be reflected through the difference in saturated hydraulic conductivity. The modeling approach was validated through numerical simulation of contaminant transport in a two-dimensional hypothetical soil profile. The results of the numerical simulation showed that the approach suggested in this study was feasible.

Quantifying the Preferential Flow by Dye Tracer in the North China Plain

The preferential flow plays a vital role on the infiltration of irrigation or rainfall. The objective of this study was to quantify preferential flow in the processing of irrigation infiltration in the field scale. Tests of different initial soil water contents and irrigation intensities were conducted using Brilliant Blue FCF（C.I.42090） dye tracer in Luancheng County of the North China Plain. The results showed that the percentages of infiltration by the preferential flow for irrigation depth of 25, 50, and 75 mm were 16.67%, 43.67%, and 34.17%, with 19.72%, 61.42%, 66.64% of dyed areas in the soil profile, respectively, which indicated that preferential flow was enhanced with increasing irrigation intensity, but reduced when the irrigation intensity was over 50 mm. The percentages of preferential flow for 75 and 180 mm previous irrigation producing different initial soil water contents were 23.26% and 18.97%, with 53.23% and 39.94% of dyed areas in the soil profile, respectively. Compared with the 75 mm without previous irrigation, the results indicated that higher initial soil water contents restrained the preferential flow in the field. Therefore, intermittent irrigation and low irrigation intensity patterns, and larger depth of plowing would be suggested to reduce the preferential flow which would increase the soil water utilization efficiency and reduce pollution risk of pesticide and fertilizer to groundwater.

Formative mechanism of preferential solution flow during dump leaching

Preferential flow is a rapid movement of solution through pores caused by coarse ores. Macropore is the main factor for the preferential flow. Macropore can be defined from three aspects. Segregation of the ores during dumping was studied according to particle kinematics. Small ores become smaller under the effect of acid and weathering. Clay in the rainwater from the hillside precipitates in the dump. Segregation and fine ores are the main causes in macropore. The permeability in coarse ores is better than that in fine ores. The mechanism in the preferential flows was studied combining the fast conducting effect of the macropore. Experimental result shows that, at certain application rate, fine ore area is saturated while large volume of solution flows laterally to the coarse ore area and leaks out quickly through the macropores. Thus the mechanism of preferential solution flows is further illustrated.

Experimental study on preferential solution flow during dump leaching of low-grade ores

The phenomenon of preferential solution flow during dump leaching of low-grade ores was studied.The formative mechanism of preferential solution flow was investigated through analyzing the relationship between permeability and ore diameter,and the relationship between surface tension and ore diameter.The preferential solution flow happened within the fine ore area when the dump was unsaturated.And it could happen within the coarse ore area when the dump became saturated.The results of experiment show that the outflow of coarse ore area increases sharply with higher applied rate.The outflow of fine ore area is greater than that of coarse ore area when the applied rate is below 3.2 L/min,and the preferential solution flow happens in fine ore area.But the preferential solution flow happens in coarse ore area when the applied rate is higher than 3.2 L/min.The result of the experiment is consistent with the mechanism analyzing.

Evolution model and failure mechanisms of rainfall-induced cracked red clay slopes:insights from Xinshao County,China

Red clay landslides are widely distributed worldwide,resulting in severe loss of life and property.Although rainfall-induced red clay slopes have received extensive attention,the role of cracks in the evolutionary process of red clay slopes and their connection to failure mechanisms is still poorly understood.A comprehensive approach integrating field investigation,laboratory tests,and numerical simulations was conducted to study the 168 red clay landslides in Xinshao County,China.The results show that red clay is prone to forming cracks at high moisture content due to its low swelling and high shrinkage properties.The failure mode of red clay slopes can be summarized in three stages:crack generation,slope excavation,and slope failure.Furthermore,the retrospective analysis and numerical simulations of the typical landslide in Guanchong indicated that intense rainfall primarily impacts the shallow layer of soil within approximately 0.5 m on the intact slope.However,cracks change the pattern of rainfall infiltration in the slope.Rainwater infiltrates rapidly through the preferential channels induced by the cracks rather than uniformly and slowly from the slope surface.This results in a significant increase in both the depth of infiltration and the saturated zone area of the cracked slope,reaching 3.8 m and 36.2 m^(2),respectively.Consequently,the factor of safety of the slope decreases by 13.4%compared to the intact slope,ultimately triggering landslides.This study can provide valuable insights into understanding the failure mechanisms of red clay slopes in China and other regions with similar geological settings.

Effects of plant roots on soil preferential pathways and soil matrix in forest ecosystems

To characterize effects of plant roots on preferential flow（PF）,we measured root length density（RLD）and root biomass（RB） in Jiufeng National Forest Park,Beijing,China.Comparisons were made for RLD and RB between soil preferential pathways and soil matrices.RLD and RB declined with the increasing soil depth（0–10,10–20,20–30,30–40,40–50,50–60 cm） in all experimental plots.RLD was greater in soil preferential pathways than in the surrounding soil matrix and was 69.5,75.0 and72.2 % for plant roots of diameter（d） ／1,1 ／ d ／ 3 and3 ／ d ／ 5 mm,respectively.Fine root systems had the most pivotal influence on soil preferential flow in this forest ecosystem.In all experimental plots,RB content was the sum of RB from soil preferential pathways and the soil matrix in each soil depth.With respect to 6 soil depth gradient（0–10,10–20,20–30,30–40,40–50,50–60 cm） in each plot,the number of soil depth gradient that RB content was greater in soil preferential pathways than in the soil matrix was characterized,and the proportion was68.2 % in all plots.

Visualization of flow behavior in ore-segregated packed beds with fine interlayers

Ore particles,especially fine interlayers,commonly segregate in heap stacking,leading to undesirable flow paths and changeable flow velocity fields of packed beds.Computed tomography(CT),COMSOL Multiphysics,and MATLAB were utilized to quantify pore structures and visualize flow behavior inside packed beds with segregated fine interlayers.The formation of fine interlayers was accompanied with the segregation of particles in packed beds.Fine particles reached the upper position of the packed beds during stacking.CT revealed that the average porosity of fine interlayers(24.21%)was significantly lower than that of the heap packed by coarse ores(37.42%),which directly affected the formation of flow paths.Specifically,the potential flow paths in the internal regions of fine interlayers were undeveloped.Fluid flowed and bypassed the fine interlayers and along the sides of the packed beds.Flow velocity also indicated that the flow paths easily gathered in the pore throat where flow velocity(1.8×10^-5 m/s)suddenly increased.Fluid stagnant regions with a flow velocity lower than 0.2×10^-5 m/s appeared in flow paths with a large diameter.

Analysis of solute preferential transport in a dark coniferous forest ecosystem of Gongga Mountain,Sichuan Province,southwestern China

We selected a dark coniferous forest ecosystem of Gongga Mountain in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River as our research area to study the preferential flow and solute preferential transport by adding the tracers KNO3 and KBr to the self-made soil column equipment in different ways to examine density and volume changes of inflows and outflows of a mass input （impulse input） and a stable, well-distributed input （step input））. The results showed that this dark coniferous forest ecosystem of Gongga Mountain is a typical area of preferential flow and solute preferential transport, a process that can be classified into five parts. A great amount of solute was transported at high speed as the result of preferential flow in the soil and caused the density of the solute in both deep water and in groundwater to rise rapidly, which definitely increased pollution in the deep soil layer.

Dynamics of fluid and heat flow in a CO_2-based injection-production geothermal system

CO_2 is now considered as a novel heat transmission fluid to extract geothermal energy. It can be used for both energy exploitation and CO_2 geological sequestration. Here, a 3-D, "two-spot" pattern well model is developed to analyze the mechanism of CO_2-water displacement and heat extraction. To obtain a deeper understanding of CO_2-geothermal system under some more realistic conditions, heterogeneity of reservoir's hydrological properties is taken into account. Due to the fortissimo mobility of CO_2, as long as the existence of highly permeable zone between the two wells, it is more likely to flow through the highly permeable zone to reach the production well, even though the flow path is longer. The preferential flow shortens circulation time and reduces heat-exchange area, probably leading to early thermal breakthrough, which makes the production fluid temperature decrease rapidly. The analyses of flow dynamics of CO_2-water fluid and heat may be useful for future design of a CO_2-based geothermal development system.

Interaction between Cross-Linked Polyacrylamide and Water and Solute Flow in a Sand and Loam

Superabsorbents such as cross-linked PAM （polyacrylamides） are frequently used to increase water availability to plants. Commercial PAM providers suggest that besides its increasing water availability, PAMs also increase nutrient availability to plants. To test this premise, four application rates （0.0 g·kg^-1, 0.33 g·kg^-1, 1.66 g·kg^-1, 3.33 g·kg^-1 and 6.66 g·kg^-1） ofa PAM were mixed with sandy and loamy soils to evaluate its effect on nutrient leaching and retention in these soils. Miscible displacements of chloride were conducted on columns of PAM-soil mixtures and results were evaluated by an equilibrium CDE （convection dispersion equation） model. Increasing the PAM rates up to 1.66 g·kg^-1 resulted in increased early appearance and dispersive transport of chloride in sand. In addition, increasing the PAM rates gradually caused increased tailing of the breakthrough curves of chloride in both soils. These suggested that PAM increased preferential transport of chloride while it increased retention of chloride in soils. Effect of PAM on preferential transport and retardation of CI was greater in sand than loam.

Experimental Study of Preferential Solute Transportation During Dump Leaching

The production of dump leaching of the Dexing Copper Mine was affected by a preferential solution flow. Formative mechanism of the preferential solution flow was investigated by analyzing the relationship between both dump permeability and surface tension and ore diameter. The preferential solution flow occured in the fine ore area when the application rate was low. The preferential solution flow entered into the coarse ore area because the negative pore water pressure disappeared with an increase of the application rate. The preferential solute transportation experiment was conducted by selecting NaCl as mineral. Results of the experiment showed that the concentration of the outflow solution reduced over time. The concentration of the coarse ore area outflow solution was greater than that of the fine ore area. The process of NaCl leaching can be divided into two stages. NaCl was carried out directly by diffusion--convection during the first stage, so the leaching rate increased sharply. But in the second stage, only a small amount of NaCl dissolved in the immobile water. The leaching rate increased slowly because NaC1, dissolved in the immobile water, can only be leached by diffusion.

Influence of crack characteristics on the morphological development of Benggang and hydrological processes

Benggang is a special type of soil erosion,which widely distributes in the granite residual soil area of southern China.Owing to the influence of local climate and topography,shallow cracks having different morphological characteristics are easily formed on the slope surface.These shallow cracks damage the surface structure of the slope and accelerate water infiltration,making it easier to cause severe soil and water loss.However,the mechanism of Benggang process is still unclear,especially for slopes with different shallow crack characteristics.In this study,granite residual soil was collected from Benngang erosion area in Yudu County,Jiangxi Province,southern China.Three experimental treatments with slope surface crack rates of 0%,5.23%,and 11.70%were performed.Simultaneous monitoring of moisture content and soil temperature in the slope were carried out during rainfall,and the characteristics of preferential flow were monitored with different crack rates.Morphological development and evolution process of Benggang with different crack rates were studied.Results show that high surface crack rate of the shallow surface on the slope accelerated the development of shallow gully erosion,leading to premature occurrence of gully erosion.As the shallow crack rate increased from 0%to 5.23%and 11.70%,the width-depth ratio of the rills at the slope bottom increased from 0.69 to 1.02 and 1.16,respectively.At the same time,a correlation between moisture and temperature data was observed for the process of water-heat coupled migration.The upper soil temperature of slope decreased quickly due to preferential flow.The simultaneous monitoring of soil moisture and temperature can effectively track preferential flow and indicate the water movement.Temperature data was a more sensitive indicator of the seepage paths of preferential flow compared to moisture data.

Variations in tidal currents and suspended sediment concentration of the upper part of the North Channel of Changjiang Estuary over the past 10 years

The tidal current duration （TCD） and velocity （TCV） and suspended sediment concentration （SSC） were measured in the dry season in December, 2011 and in the flood season in June, 2012 at the upper part of the North Channel of Changjiang Estuary. They were assimilated with the measured data in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, using the tidal range＇s proportion conversion. Variations in TCD and TCV, preferential flow and SSC have been calculated. Influences of typical engineering projects such as Qingcaosha fresh water reservoir, Yangtze River Bridge, and land reclamation on the ebb and flood TCD, TCV and SSC in the North Channel for the last 10 years are discussed. The results show that： （1） currently, in the upper part of North Channel, the ebb tide dominates; after the construction of the typical projects, ebb TCD and TCV tends to be larger and the vertical average ebb and flood SSC decrease during the flood season while SSC increases during the dry season; （2） changes in the vertical average TCV are mainly contributed by seasonal runoff variation during the flood season, which is larger in the flood season than that in the dry season; the controlling parameters of increasing ebb TCD and TCV are those large-scale engineering projects in the North Channel; variation in SSC may result mainly from the reduction of basin annual sediment loads, large-scale nearshore projects and so on.

Landslide monitoring in southwestern China via time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography

The dynamic monitoring of landslides in engineering geology has focused on the correlation among landslide stability,rainwater infiltration,and subsurface hydrogeology.However,the understanding of this complicated correlation is still poor and inadequate.Thus,in this study,we investigated a typical landslide in southwestern China via time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography（TLERT） in November 2013 and August 2014.We studied landslide mechanisms based on the spatiotemporal characteristics of surface water infiltration and flow within the landslide body.Combined with borehole data,inverted resistivity models accurately defined the interface between Quaternary sediments and bedrock.Preferential flow pathways attributed to fracture zones and fissures were also delineated.In addition,we found that surface water permeates through these pathways into the slipping mass and drains away as fissure water in the fractured bedrock,probably causing the weakly weathered layer to gradually soften and erode,eventually leading to a landslide.Clearly,TLERT dynamic monitoring can provide precursory information of critical sliding and can be used in landslide stability analysis and prediction.

Cadmium transport mediated by soil colloid and dissolved organic matter:A field study

This study investigated the potential role of soil colloids and dissolved organic matter （DOM） in transporting Cd through in situ undisturbed paddy soil monoliths. Brilliant Blue was used as a tracer to assess the effect of preferential flow on Cd down migration. Experimental results showed that deep penetration of Cd and Brilliant Blue into the soil profile took place due to the preferential flow through macropores, mainly earthworm channels, with much of chemicals thus bypassing the soil matrix. Dye tracer and Cd distribution within the soil matrix was fairly restricted to several centimeters. Colloid restrained the migration of both dye and Cd in the matrix and preferential flow area. DOM facilitated the transport of Cd and Brilliant Blue in matrix and macropores by about 10 cm over that of the control. Pearson＇s is correlation analysis revealed strong associations between Brilliant Blue concentrations, exchangeable Cd and total Cd concentrations in three studied plots indicating that they had taken the same preferential flow pathway.

Ecological Behavior of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) in Soil-Plant Systems

More and more linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) has contaminated the water and soil ma pollution discharge, making it important to identify the ecological behavior and toxicity of LAS so as to carry out measures that will reduce its negative effects on the ecosystem. The ecological behavior of LAS. including degradation, migration, and plant uptake, in both soil-paddy rice and soil-soybean systems was studied. Reduction of LAS in pot and field plots followed the first order reaction kinetics with degradation half-lives of 35-50 days with LAS decreasing to very low concentrations after a season of crop growth. Strong migration ability for LAS was found and the breakthrough time in a 1.5 in soil monolith was significantly shortened to 23 days by preferential flow. Leachate volumes of soil-paddy and soil-soybean systems at preferential breakthrough were much different, while the leachate volumes at equilibrium governed by soil adsorption/desorption processes were very similar. Significant uptake of LAS in both paddy rice and sovbeans was observed in pot and field experiments (P < 0.05). In aquatic culture, 20 μg mL-1 and above of LAS significantly inhibited the growth of paddy seedlings (P < 0.05). The critical concentration for LAS in soil inhibiting the growth and yield of paddy was 160 μg g-1; when higher, there was a strong negative influence, with decreases in height, spike length, and production, when lower than 80 μg g-1, paddy growth was stimulated. There was little effect of LAS on soybeans.

Prediction of preferential fluid flow in porous structures based on topological network models: Algorithm and experimental validation

The understanding and prediction of preferential fluid flow in porous media have attracted considerable attention in various engineering fields because of the implications of such flows in leading to a non-equilibrium fluid flow in the subsurface. In this study, a novel algorithm is proposed to predict preferential flow paths based on the topologically equivalent network of a porous structure and the flow resistance of flow paths. The equivalent flow network was constructed using Poiseuille's law and the maximal inscribed sphere algorithm. The flow resistance of each path was then determined based on Darcy's law. It was determined that fluid tends to follow paths with lower flow resistance. A computer program was developed and applied to an actual porous structure. To validate the algorithm and program, we tested and recorded two-dimensional(2 D) water flow using an ablated Perspex sheet featuring the same porous structure investigated using the analytical calculations. The results show that the measured preferential flow paths are consistent with the predictions.

Soil Moisture Response to Rainfall in Forestland and Vegetable Plot in Taihu Lake Basin,China

Soil moisture and its spatial pattern are important for understanding various hydrological,pedological,ecological and agricultural processes.In this study,data of rainfall and soil moisture contents at different depths(10 cm,20 cm,40 cm and 60 cm) in forestland and vegetable plot in the Taihu Lake Basin,China were monitored and analyzed for characteristics of soil moisture variation and its response to several typical rainfall events.The following results were observed.First,great temporal variation of soil moisture was observed in the surface layer than in deeper layer in vegetable plot.In contrast,in forestland,soil moisture had similar variation pattern at different depths.Second,initial soil moisture was an important factor influencing the vertical movement of soil water during rainfall events.In vegetable plot,simultaneous response of soil moisture to rainfall was observed at 10-and 20-cm depths due to fast infiltration when initial soil was relatively dry.However,traditional downward response order occurred when initial soil was relatively wet.Third,critical soil horizon interface was an active zone of soil water accumulation and lateral movement.A less permeable W-B soil horizon interface(40-cm depth) in vegetable plot can create perched water table above it and elevate the soil water content at the corresponding depth.Fourth,the land cover was an effective control factor of soil moisture during small and moderate rainfall events.In the forestland,moderate and small rainfall events had tiny influences on soil moisture due to canopy and surface O horizon interception.Fifth,preferential flow and lateral subsurface interflow were important paths of soil water movement.During large and long duration rainfall events,lateral subsurface flow and preferential flow through surface crack or soil pipe occurred,which recharged the deep soil.However,in more concentrated large storm,surface crack or soil pipe connected by soil macropores was the main contributor to the occurrence of preferential flow.Findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for sustainable water and fertilizer management and land use planning in the Taihu Lake Basin.

A Heuristic Approach to Estimating Spatial Variability of Vertical Leakage in the Recharge Zone of the Gambier Basin Tertiary Confined Sand Aquifer, South Australia

The vertical leakage to confined aquifers is rarely quantified in complex settings, where the recharge zone is characterized by both diffuse and preferential flows. In such setting, conventional hydraulic or tracer based estimation of recharge or vertical leakage is problematic, unless the effects of duality of flow regimes are considered. A water balance approach by the use of calibrated groundwater models can be used, as the mass balance is independent of the particular mode of recharge and vertical leakage processes. Here, we adopt a water balance approach to provide a first order assessment of recharge to the unconfined Tertiary limestone aquifer (TLA) and vertical leakage to the Tertiary confined sand aquifer (TCSA) within the Glencoe-Nangwarry-Nagwarry (GNN) recharge zone of the Gambier Basin in South Australia. Despite many studies expressing concern about the impact of land use on recharge to the TLA and vertical leakage to the TCSA, no estimates have been made to quantify the vertical leakage within the GNN recharge zone. In the GNN recharge zone, relatively high recharge to the unconfined aquifer and vertical leakage to the confined aquifer occurs as a result of both diffuse and preferential flow processes. This is due to presence of structural faults and thin or absent aquitard. Within the Hundred of Nangwarry, where 83% of the area is covered with plantation forest, the model calculated recharge to the TLA of 80 mm·year-1, about 44% reduction compared to adjacent non-forested area (144 mm·year-1). Vertical leakage to the TCSA within the Hundred of Nangwarry area is higher (84.5 mm·year-1) than recharge to the TLA. Higher vertical leakage combined with the reduced recharge to TLA resulted in depletion of the TLA storage, as evidenced by drying of the TLA at one locality. In contrast, in plantation forest areas where diffuse recharge is the dominant process (Hundred of Penola), recharge to the TLA is about 19 mm·year-1, a 78% reduction compared to the non-forested areas, a mix of irrigation and dryland pasture. In these areas, vertical leakage to the TCSA is much smaller: 8 mm·year-1 through a thick aquitard. Simulation of a management scenario in which plantation forest is replaced by dryland pasture in the Hundred of Nangwarry results in 135 mm·year-1 recharge to TLA and a 98 mm·year-1 vertical leakage to the TCSA.