FLOW AND P on age 9 Pa Ghapter | TRANSPORT IN THE UNSATURATED ZONE i Saved nies 9.1 CAPILLARITY St ah Say at we 9.1 Type © and # laos with depth in the emateed Flow and transport mechanisms inthe unsaturated zone are much more comple oe than the saturated zone. Thi Bedint& Huber, 1992. © Addon Wesley ubshing Co, fc, he effec of capillary forces and noninest rm Part of the pore space id the total porosity is defined asthe ‘Proportional tothe interfacial tension and inversely f curvature| | 3 £ See eae ‘Hydroulic condvetivity K ems) ® Meiadiond ——© Cebmbiosendy eon Soom ‘onion cor uo ra 0] £ 0 i i «| o 0 p (b) Sol eharactrstic curves for (a) weting and drying and) dierent solltypes. Source: Bedieat and Huber, 192. © Addison Wesley Publishing Co Inc. Reprinted by permission Chap. 9 Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone where @ = volumetric water cont os, derived an empirical relationship between capil- lary pressure head and volumetric water cont i Fire ere ei : Matcha toe non Tebbut depends on the previous history of the soil. The hyster to the presence of different contact angles during wett to geometric restrictions of si tent. Darcy's law isthe where v = Darcy velocity z = depth below surface 254 Chap. 9. Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone GOVERNING EQUATION FOR UNSATURATED FLOW ‘The water table defines the boundary between the unsaturated and saturated zone: and is defined by the surface at which the fluid pressure Ps exactly atmospheric, ‘or P = 0, Hence, the total hydraulic head hk = + z, where # = Prog. the hes ted flow include the solution of the governing an unsaturated porous media. The result- ved by Richards in 1931, is based on substi- ‘The resulting equatio -2 fro 4] 20 oxter than atmospheric, ) is greater than zero, with a piczometer is nota function of the pressure head &. 50 the pressure head 4 sented in detail in Chapter low and transport in th reeze! il inthe saturated zone, Freeze’: Work was significant, since forthe first time a single equation was used to deserb, lunsalurated-saturated flow, thus accounting for transient changes s. ted zone can be found in Freeze and Cherry 3), and Charbeneau and Daniel (1993) Moisture characteristic curves for a pa three approaches (Charbeneau and Dani ge Values of moisture con equation becomes os 1980). These equations were presented in Equation (9.9) leads to the kinematic theory of modeling the unsaturated flow these functions are usually estimated where capillary pressure gradie s0 applicable i ue t flow is downwan. under a unit gradient. The second extreme case occurs when capillary force completely dominate gravitational forces, and a nonlinear diffusion equation re | To summarize the properties of zone as compared to thy saturated zone, Freeze and Cherry (1975) indicate that: For the unsaturated zone (vadose zone) 1. Ioceurs above the water table and above the capillary fringe. | 2. The soil pores are only partially filled with water; the moisture content 84 less than the porosity n. 3. The fluid pressure p is less than atmospheric; the pressure head 4 isles than zero. of the pressure head y. For the saturated zone: Chap. 9. Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone | \tion process. A more detailed review of infiltration can be found in Rawls etal Figure 9 Two tensiometers wed to determine the gradient of These include the SCS runoff pote -Holtan method (Soil Conserva- Hydraulic conductivity at saturation K, is measured in rigid-wall and flexil performed with a c head y = is used to represent the re content profile at the moment of surface satura- ‘moisture profile is the amount pared laboratory- ure head can be measured ‘measurement can be of a porous element sasing in Figure 9.60 (Bedient with a liquid, and when brought into contact ion down to the depth L is given by F = L(®, ~ 6) = LM e110) [Neglecting the depth of ponding at the surface, the original form of the Green-Ampt equation is tive than 0.9 bar due to pt ter for field use. 9.6 INFILTRATION MODELS to a soil from rainfall, iface runoff, e 258 Chap. 9 Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone S0¢.9.8 Intitration Models 259(= Bid, Moby Re 12) T= 0K, ~ T= UR, 6 2) and remember that Yi negative. The Green-Ampt the following: 260 ETT Be we are 3. Following surface saturation, f = Ky, [1 — Maty/F] {Equation 9.11) for i > Kjland f = ifor is K,. ‘The combined process is sketched in curves B and C of Figure 9.6. As long as the rainfall intensity is greater than the saturated hydraulic conductivity, the infiltration rate asymptotically approaches K,, as a limiting lower value. Mein oe depen calves fe = "2 ‘usually termedTABLE 9.1 Green-Ampt Initration Parameters for Various Sl Texture Ces F in x 3.67 X 10-*cmvseeX60secmin) = 1.31 cm ‘Wetin tent Hyde (ol ft, suace saturation isnot each, ad 1d Btucive “Nolwoclon —coniviy Senge a poowiyt, _teatvicm) “een “ae The volume reid for uta saturation during the ower inal reo Se a 7 = Kis ont Lean sod ow Seay cam ow Thus, a incremental volume of AF = F,~ FOD min) = 350 — 131 = 239¢m 7 iustbe supped before sre saturation ocr. This tous ance ae tan ow ™ 7 1s aw scan = 190 see sandy cay o ry ™ may “has, the line = 615 nin Sityeoy ow bond) 0 6 é sen cer | 87 TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN THE UNSATURATED ZONE Sy eur oo om TB cwy om “The aumbersa parentheses below eat parameters one sand evton around heparan vite veeFigure 98.7 Conceptual model forland westmest. Source: Shor, 1986. ‘concentration of the component will be a function of both depth and time. The ‘advection—dispersion equation for this case (Short, 1986) is per unit weight of tus is the first-order degradation constant in the aqueous phase, and isthe: ‘order decay constant in the soil phase. Equation (9.13) linear such that Cy = Kole ‘where Kn is the sorption constant. Equation (9.13) can be rearranged into a familiar form and rewritten as follows: We, DeCy _ Vso _ wes 19 w Ra RA RK te where R and y are the retardation factor anda new degradation coefficient respec tively, given by Ratt eX? 0.19 ke we net meee on 5) can be solved for 1gflow with no degra ty of different cases, and two will ‘and (2) plug flow with degradation Chap. 9 Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone Plug flow means thatthe flow is advection dominated and that dispersion can be neglected, Plug Flow with No Degradation If dispersion and degradation are neglected, Eq. (9.15) reduces to ie 2 ae eG 0.8) step concentration input is given by tee $= 1x s ‘The solution to Eq. 2 om and 5 = oforx > Ye Where Cs the initial concentration and Eq, 9.18 s subject tothe following bound ary condi Co= 0, forall ¥>Oatr=0 20) Ca= Cy forall: >OatX =0 Ci 0, ase om Figure 9.8aisa ation of this solution. The relative comcen- {ration at any given point has occurred. The veloci the contaminant moves is equal to the water flow velocity the retardation coefficient, The solution to Eq. (9.18) fora slug concentration input (Figure 9.8b) is given » Sar wee Pears tlt a ot texs4Z ox om ox hill Lis the length of pulse. This sok ‘subject to the following boundary C= foratx>onr=o ox CoC forall = 0andis ax = 0 0.28) Sec. 8.7. Transport Processes inthe Unsaturated Zone 268268 “This equation can be solved for the case of step and pulse inputs, respective (ee Figure 9.9): chap. 9 Flow and Tr 1d Zone \ 8 fl gure 9.8 Concentration profile) ste input snd) pubeiapat. Sou: ‘Shor, 1986. 3 Plug Flow with Degradation : For plug low problems with first-order biodegradation and without dispersion Eg, (@.15) reduces to en oy marries sms oe & Gn SoM where 5 = Lor xs Het Ye 0x0 and 5 = 0foex > Ye 5 = oforx> M Se nx v, pero, nee Pears tt 1 cytthe concentrations are ‘These simplified cases relatively simple tems. If éspersion coeficients re included inthe analysis, the resulting soins include error functions (erfe) and appear similar to those in Chapter 6. Example 9.2 CONCENTRATION OF LEACHATE FROM A HYDROCARBON SPILL ‘Consider the release of a contaminant that initially occupies an area with plan view ‘A.and depth 2. For example, this could come from a hydrocarbon spill of volume Vig Over an area Awa. The depth ofthe spilled material Lis the found from = fe hin ‘where Qa isthe residual ol content. The problem also coresponds toa and-reatne system with a zone of incorporation depth L.. There is finite amount of available near the ground surface, and we want to estimate the rate at which it leached from the contaminated zone. Solution. The bulk conceatration of contaminant is “The mass advective ux from the contaminated region i given by JA = UcnA here = Dry vay int veri tn, Th conten et ‘implies that which ny beige find n= Clea Con EXP ‘Chap. 9 Flow and {in the Unsaturated Zone ‘Example 9.3. TRAVEL TIME IN VADOSE ZONE ‘To estimate the travel time for contaminants within the vadose zone, thre pieces Next, we ned ta determin the sverage water content, Neat the ground sie the and both gravitational and capillary pressure the uper tone. The Darey velocity inthe vertical rection s = x(t u-x(% and since the capillary pressure gradi senso eo (i In this case, the seepage velocity is zone from the base ofthe contaminated ee the given water conten tne Unsaturated Zone 289270 os 208, the contain i big degraded ata wilhavedectyed bya atone fen ne table canbe expressed in terms of the leachate eonceg >ntamination as i - tration reaching the tion from the region of. elt) ® Chaat ~ fee Me ‘where ciaes(t ~ fu) represents the leachate concentration at time ¢~ fy "esults from the previous example, this give eA TS cot wean [UES ‘A number of assumptions cont does not account for difusior Charbeneau, 1990), Multiphase Transport Yained in this formula should be noted. The formula OF volatilization from soils (example adapted fro In reality, transport in the unsaturated zone is complex mainly because there are} ‘numerous phases of interest: soil, water, air, and contaminant. Investigations of transport of chemicals the unsaturated zone must inherently deal are soluble and some contaminants ent in the aqueous, vapor, and oil phases 4 mass per unit volume basis. The chemical hemical sorbed per unit mass se chen et pe CMe de described. The governing iransport equations ae given below. #Cy ie . Aqueous phase: 0 °C! = op, ZF? - ov. ~ nate 03) where 0 is the volumetric water con! ac, Soil phase: p2C! = -p0C, il entration of the cor wt iis the density of the soil phase, C, is the concer conte wl inthe Sol poser andy a fitorder ate consent for drain phase. Chap. Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone open ee Immerse $= 40,2 ae gay Wie Si the volumete ol content, Cys the concentration ofthe contaminant She aly ase: Dais the ispersion coefficient inthe phase, Viste veces ofthe oily phase, and ne isthe first-order constant for degradation inthe ol pon ey Py ay Vapor phase: SF = nD. SF ~ We — wae, 37 here isthe volumetric vapor content. Equations (8.34) through 37) can be combined to yield Hey ge, He, 2G, a ar ta tea Py 2 4 ap, 2 = 00, Fee + 40. 26 + go, 2 We _ yy, Ce ay oe = Hable ~ wa8Ce ~ mony — paBCy jon of contaminant is equal to the sum ofits concentration ox - wv. — Ov, ‘The total cones in the four phases: om Crm Oy + 4p + 90.4 an wou tnd aque phase assumed tobe ier, | vapor phases to follow Henry's law, and between the Oil and aqueous phate to Be hema co that Co = Kole @40) oan oy nis the Henry's law con- where Kp is the so Co = BYCy = BAC, oa» Be = 0+ OK. + aK + pK ae ‘ Kw, Ke eas Bem ht oe net 9K K Ko : oR t nt oR sae) oan zone 271 ‘S0e.9.7 Transport Processes inthe Unsaturated 2mm The transport equation (9.38) canbe nme (9.38) can be rewritten in terms ofthe total concentra rp Fry acy where De, Ve, and we are the effective dis coef sion coefic and degradation rate constant, respectively dened by Ded , Dob | D, B. De = De® , Deb, Den io Bet B ent, effective velocity, 3. 0.49) x) os) Equation (9.48) is a simple o sional advective transport equation that can be solved semianalytically or numerically for multiphase transport in the unsaturated zone (Short, 1988). Volatile Emissions from Soll ‘The modeling of emissions to the atmosphere from soil processes has been dealt ‘conditions considered by Jury et al. (1983) are as follows: Cr=Cr, 0Lforr=0 oss ‘The transport of the chemical through the stagnant boundary is equal tothe flux at the soil surface such that Dei + Vale = —HeCr, fork =Oatallr — O58 where Hes the effective mass transfer coelicint defined by =a 05s He By where i is the mass transfer coefficient across the ‘The vapor flux at the surface of the soil is estimated using JO, = -MeCr oss Chap. 9 Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone ar” De age ~ Vey ~ weCr 0.4 Shoe, 1986, jon takes place. J, 1) = ~ hp ~y appropriate boundary conditions yields an expression for the dry interface: 4100.1) = DeCwz ht + Why = h)DvCweliM o8) where M, is the mass of contaminant applied, and A is the soil surface area over which the contaminant is applied, '8 VADOSE ZONE FLOW AND TRANSPORT MODELS Jeveloping models for simulat- in the vadose and Corap- ‘See, 98 Vadose Zone Flow and Transport Models 273216 ‘aust et al. (1989), Kaluarachchi and Parker (1989, 1990), Mayer ie hase flow ‘Many of these models for which the values te and transport. Noteworthy are several implified assumptions and allow rela- ted. Three such models are discussed in detail: RITZ (Nofziger et al., 1988), CHEMFLO (Nofriger et al., 1989), and HSSM (Weaver and Charbenea, Chap. 9 Flow end Transpor ides mass balance for the contaminant. indicating | and degraded, and charts and tables of the ‘TABLE 93. Input Parameters Describing Land-Treatment Site Tap data: Sel properties ‘See, 9.8 Vacose Zone Flow and Transport Models 277TABLE 94 Typical Output from RITZ Model igs ap and Charbeneau, 1992). The HSSM model consists of three components: KOPT, OILENS, and TSGPLUME. The first two components simulate low of LNAPL. through the unsaturated zone and NAPL spreading along the wate table. The llutant transport. An emphasis ofthe determination ofthe size of the spreading oil lens on the a ta) vox — ee some name ar soee 4 toca Concentration of point (gi vers re 1000 | oe 0001 strane: “Ton Set Loam 9800 Patra naar 108000 anne 108-05 mmTABLE 9.5 Input Data for the CHEMFLO Mod befor 0868 Sj Orientation of fow eytem ‘YOLO CLAY Fate or sembinfinite si system (For Fl Help; ESC Abort FID - End eding; Pap - Pre screen: PyDn- Next cree Sve Int pranters in fle; 9 Rea apa parameter fom fie ‘Soil and Chemical Parameters (sen 49) FF Help; ESC - Abort FO - End eng; PaUP Input parameter i fle F9- Read ieput parameter from into the aquifer. The last module, TSGPLUME ILENS and calculates the spread Conceotravon Time 8.00 h¢ JoelVadose Zore Flow and Transport Models 289 282 Chap. 9. Flow and Transport in the Unsaturaled Zone28 1977, “Application of Unrated ens for Radioactive Waste Storage 'G. Gray. G. F Poder. and CA that hep os ‘petween the vadose and saturated zones. BxooKs, R Pap. 3, C chap. 9. Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone286 ‘Modeling: Current Approaches og: roaches and Unresolved Problems Reactivity i toms, American Society of Agron ad P Agronor ‘Chemical Transport in Three-f om -fui-phase at ofa ‘erin Solty of Ago U.S. EPA Robert S. Kerr Environmental Norzigee, D. L., WiLuiams, J. R., and SwoRr. 7 the Fate of Hazardous Chemicals during Land Treat Resear Chap. @ Flow and Transport in the Unsaturated Zone