Articles
EVALUATION OF TWO UNSATURATED FLOW METHODS IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEM HYDROLOGY MODELS
Article number
449_99
Pages
723 – 728
Language
Abstract
Two methods used in simulation models for describing unsaturated zone flow conditions are evaluated based on their ability to predict experimental data from a single field study.
The first method is based on a numerical solution to the Richards equation for describing water movement in the soil profile, while the second method is based on soil-water capacity terms.
The evaluation of the performance of the two methods is based on goodness-of-fit statistics and graphical analysis.
Results indicate that the first method is more accurate for both the upper and the deeper soil zones; the second method is less reliable for characterizing the upper soil zone moisture conditions, but it can adequately describe soil moisture conditions in the lower soil zones.
Recommendations are made for model use based on comparison results, the intended model use, and the difficulty in the acquisition of the required model input data.
The first method is based on a numerical solution to the Richards equation for describing water movement in the soil profile, while the second method is based on soil-water capacity terms.
The evaluation of the performance of the two methods is based on goodness-of-fit statistics and graphical analysis.
Results indicate that the first method is more accurate for both the upper and the deeper soil zones; the second method is less reliable for characterizing the upper soil zone moisture conditions, but it can adequately describe soil moisture conditions in the lower soil zones.
Recommendations are made for model use based on comparison results, the intended model use, and the difficulty in the acquisition of the required model input data.
Authors
I.X. Tsiros, S. Elmaloglou, R.B. Ambrose
Keywords
Simulation, environmental models, agrometeorological models
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