Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering - Vol 2 | 27. Infiltration Capacity by Abraham | Learn Smarter
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27. Infiltration Capacity

27. Infiltration Capacity

Infiltration is a critical hydrological process involving the movement of water from the surface into the soil, with the infiltration capacity representing the maximum absorption rate under specific conditions. This chapter details the various factors affecting infiltration, measurement techniques, empirical models, and applications in fields such as civil engineering and water resources management.

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  1. 27
    Infiltration Capacity

    Infiltration capacity measures the maximum rate of water absorption by soil,...

  2. 27.1
    Definition Of Infiltration And Infiltration Capacity

    Infiltration is the process of water entering soil, while infiltration...

  3. 27.2
    Factors Affecting Infiltration Capacity

    This section discusses the factors influencing infiltration capacity...

  4. 27.2.1
    Soil Characteristics

    This section discusses the key characteristics of soil that influence its...

  5. 27.2.2
    Vegetative Cover

    Vegetative cover improves soil structure and porosity, enhancing...

  6. 27.2.3
    Land Use And Surface Conditions

    Land use and surface conditions significantly impact soil infiltration...

  7. 27.2.4
    Moisture Content Of Soil

    Moisture content in soil significantly affects its infiltration capacity,...

  8. 27.2.5

    Temperature affects soil infiltration capacity, with warmer conditions...

  9. 27.2.6
    Rainfall Characteristics

    Rainfall characteristics include factors like intensity and duration,...

  10. 27.3
    Infiltration Process And Time Dependency

    Infiltration capacity decreases over time during a rainfall event, starting...

  11. 27.4
    Measurement Of Infiltration

    This section discusses various methods for measuring soil infiltration...

  12. 27.4.1
    Infiltrometers

    Infiltrometers are devices used to measure the infiltration rate of soil,...

  13. 27.4.2
    Rainfall Simulator

    The Rainfall Simulator section discusses the method of applying artificial...

  14. 27.4.3

    Lysimeters are devices used to accurately measure infiltration and...

  15. 27.4.4
    Tensiometers And Soil Moisture Sensors

    This section discusses the use of tensiometers and soil moisture sensors for...

  16. 27.5
    Empirical Infiltration Models

    The section discusses various mathematical models used to estimate...

  17. 27.5.1
    Horton's Equation

    Horton's Equation describes the exponential decay of infiltration rate over...

  18. 27.5.2
    Philip’s Equation

    Philip's Equation describes the relationship between infiltration rate and...

  19. 27.5.3
    Green-Ampt Model

    The Green-Ampt model is a physically based equation used to estimate soil...

  20. 27.6
    Infiltration Indices

    Infiltration indices simplify the infiltration process for rainfall-runoff...

  21. 27.6.1

    The φ-Index is a key parameter in hydrology used to determine the average...

  22. 27.6.2

    The W-Index is an infiltration index used to better estimate runoff by...

  23. 27.6.3
    W❑ Min-Index

    The W❑ min-Index provides the minimum value of the W-index during saturated...

  24. 27.7
    Applications Of Infiltration Studies

    Infiltration studies have practical applications in urban drainage,...

  25. 27.8
    Infiltration And Watershed Models

    This section discusses the integration of infiltration models into...

  26. 27.9
    Infiltration In Arid And Semi-Arid Regions

    This section discusses the challenges of infiltration in arid and semi-arid...

  27. 27.10
    Limitations And Challenges In Infiltration Measurement

    This section discusses the limitations and challenges associated with...

What we have learnt

  • Infiltration capacity is the maximum rate at which water can enter the soil.
  • Various factors like soil characteristics, vegetation, land use, and moisture affect infiltration rates.
  • Measurement of infiltration can be done using infiltrometers, lysimeters, and rainfall simulators, among others.

Key Concepts

-- Infiltration Capacity
The maximum rate at which a soil can absorb water under specified conditions.
-- Infiltration Rate
The speed at which water enters the soil, typically expressed in mm/hr or cm/hr.
-- Horton's Equation
A mathematical model that describes the exponential decay of infiltration rate over time.
-- Infiltration Indices
Parameters that simplify the infiltration process for use in rainfall-runoff models.

Additional Learning Materials

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