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Evaluation of unsaturated zone water fluxes in heterogeneous alluvium at a Mojave Basin Site
Article first published online: 29 OCT 2002
DOI: 10.1029/2001WR000735
Copyright 2002 by the American Geophysical Union.
1944-7973/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=797107f92f501d54ec880f7cc7998a974ae89f63 "Water Resources Research")
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How to Cite
, , , and , Evaluation of unsaturated zone water fluxes in heterogeneous alluvium at a Mojave Basin Site, Water Resour. Res., 38(10), 1215, doi:10.1029/2001WR000735, 2002.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 OCT 2002
- Article first published online: 29 OCT 2002
- Manuscript Accepted: 15 APR 2002
- Manuscript Revised: 12 NOV 2001
- Manuscript Received: 19 JUN 2001
- Abstract
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- Cited By
Keywords:
- unsaturated zone;
- vadose zone;
- recharge;
- flux measurement;
- stratification;
- Darcian flow
[1] Vertical and horizontal water fluxes in the unsaturated zone near intermittent streams critically affect ecosystems, water supply, and contaminant transport in arid and semiarid regions. The subsurface near the Oro Grande Wash is typical in having great textural diversity, pronounced layer contrasts, and extremely low hydraulic conductivities associated with nearly dry media. These features prevent a straightforward application of the Darcian method for recharge estimation, which has provided high-quality flux estimates at simpler, wetter sites. We have augmented the basic Darcian method with theoretical developments such that a small number of core sample unsaturated hydraulic property measurements, combined with additional, easily obtained data (e.g., drillers' logs) can provide useful flux estimates and knowledge of two-dimensional water behavior beneath the wash.