Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparing phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth with water surface evaporation

  • Report
  • Published:
Journal of Arid Land Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Salt-affected soils are mostly found in irrigated areas within arid and semi-arid regions where the groundwater table is shallow. Soils of this type have become an increasingly severe problem because they threaten both the environment and the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture. A tool to estimate phreatic evaporation is therefore urgently required to minimize the salinization potential of salt-affected areas. In this context, phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth (E0) is a key parameter for establishing a model for calculating phreatic evaporation. The aim of this study was to explore the law of phreatic evaporation and to develop structurally rational empirical models for calculating phreatic evaporation, based on E0 data of six types of soil (i.e., gravel, fine sand, sandy loam, light loam, medium loam, and heavy loam) observed using the non-weighing lysimeter and water surface evaporation (E601) data observed using a E601 evaporator of same evaporation area with a lysimeter-tube at the groundwater balance station of the Weigan River Management Office in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, during the non-freezing period (April to October) between 1990 and 1994. The relationship between E0 and E601 was analyzed, the relationship between the ratio of E0 to E601 and the mechanical compositions of different soils was presented, and the factors influencing E0 were discussed. The results of this study reveal that E0 is not equal to E601. In fact, only values of the former for fine sand are close to those of the latter. Data also show that E0 values are related to soil texture as well as to potential atmospheric evaporation, the ratio of E0 to E601 and the silt-clay particle content (grain diameter less than 0.02 mm) is negatively exponentially correlated, and that soil thermal capacity plays a key role in phreatic evaporation at E0. The results of this analysis therefore imply that the treatment of zero phreatic depth is an essential requirement when constructing groundwater balance stations to study the law of phreatic evaporation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Averianov S F. 1956. Seepage from irrigation canals and its influence on regime of ground water table. In: Kostiakov A N, Favorin N N, Averianov S F. Influence of Irrigation Systems on Regime of Ground Water. Moscow: Academic Press, 140–151. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blight G E. 2002. Measuring evaporation from soil surfaces for environmental and geotechnical purposes. Water SA, 28(4): 381–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T F, Wang X S, Li H L, et al. 2013. Redistribution of groundwater evapotranspiration and water table around a well field in an unconfined aquifer: A simplified analytical model. Journal of Hydrology, 495: 162–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung S O, Horton R. 1987. Soil heat and water flow with a partial surface mulch. Water Resources Research, 23(12): 2175–2186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook F J, Rassam D W. 2002. An analytical model for predicting water table dynamics during drainage and evaporation. Journal of Hydrology, 263(1–4): 105–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cosby B J, Hornerger G M, Clapp R B, et al. 1984. A statistical exploration of the relationships of soil moisture characteristics to the physical properties of soils. Water Resources Research, 20(6): 682–690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui M X. 2006. Agricultural Meteorology. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 64–65. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vries D A. 1963. Thermal properties of soils. In: Van Wijk W R. Physics of Plant Environment. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing, 210–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Don J, William P G. 1958. Elements of Applied Hydrology. New York: Ronal Press, 150–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan S X, Dao Y F, Liu J. 2014. Principles of Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 91–94. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang M H. 2009. Environmental Hydrology. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, 15. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guan H. 2010. Hydrology. Beijing: Science Press, 26. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han B Z, Liu J Z, Fu J W. 2009. Concept of soil evaporation and its determining method. Heilongjiang Science and Technology of Water Conservancy, 37(2): 106. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanks R J, Ashcroft G L. 1984. Applied Soil Physics: Soil Water and Temperature Applications. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 104–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanks R J. 1992. Applied Soil Physics: Soil Water and Temperature Applications (2nd ed.). New York: Springer-Verlog New York, Inc., 87–88, 114.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hillel D. 1998. Environmental Soil Physics. New York: Academic Press, 514–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillel D. 2004. Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics. New York: Academic Press, 343–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu F R, Hou Y G. 1988. Principles of Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 89. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu S J, Tian C Y, Song Y D. 2009. Empirical models of calculating phreatic evaporation from bare soil in Tarim River Basin, Xinjiang. Environmental Earth Sciences, 59(3): 663–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huo C R, Wang Y L. 1988. Groundwater Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 104. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin G Y. 1982. Evaluation of Groundwater Resources in a Plain Area. Beijing: China Hydraulic Press, 41–47. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson E, Yáñez J, Ortiz C, et al. 2010. Evaporation from shallow groundwater in closed basins in the Chilean Altiplano. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 55(4): 624–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jury W A, Gardner W R, Gardner W H. 1991. Soil Physics (5th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, 178–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lal R, Shukla M K. 2004. Principles of Soil Physics. New York: Marcel Dekker, 411.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lei Z D, Yang S X, Xie S C. 1988. Soil-Water Dynamics. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press, 133–146. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang X T. 1992. Principles of Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 99. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu Z Q, Pu X G. 2006. Calculating model study of the soil evaporation in the Heilongjiang region. South to North Water Transfers and Water Science & Technology, 4 (Suppl.): 39–41. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma Y J, Shen B, Tumaerbay H. 2006. Spacing of drainage ditches in field under the influence of evaporation. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 37(10): 1264–1269. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao X M, Li M, Shen Y L, et al. 1998. Analysis of the phreatic evaporation in Yarkant River Basin, Xinjiang. Arid Land Geography, 21(3): 44–50. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moldup P, Olesen T, Schjønning P, et al. 2000. Predicting the gas diffusion coefficient in undisturbed soil from soil water characteristics. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64(1): 94–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu X Y, Zhang Y Y, Su J X, et al. 1983. Phreatic evaporation and calculation of non-stable flow drainage under depth index relations n=3. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, (9): 48–53. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridolfi L, D’Odorico P, Laio F, et al. 2008. Coupled stochastic dynamics of water table and soil moisture in bare soil conditions. Water Resources Research, 44(1): 423–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rui X F. 2014. Principles of Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 114–118. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena G S, Taylor G S, Prankling R E. 1971. Effect of environmental factors on evaporation rates from soils in the presence of a water table. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science, 19: 23–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah N, Nachabe M, Ross M. 2007. Extinction depth and evapotranspiration from ground water under selected land covers. Groundwater, 45(3): 329–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang S H, Mao X M, Lei Z D. et al. 1999. Inverse-logistic formula for calculation of phreatic evaporation coefficient. Irrigation and Drainage, 18(2): 18–21. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen B, Huang H H. 2015. Principles of Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 66–69. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen Z R. 1992. Water resources scientific experiment and research—atmospheric, surface, soil and ground water interactions. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, 213–231. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi C X. 1959. Land Hydrology. Beijing: Science Press, 215–217. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi C X, Liang R J. 1964. Principles of Land Hydrology. Beijing: China Industry Press, 30–31. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi W J, Xing X G, Zhang Z H, et al. 2013. Groundwater evaporation from saline soil under plastic mulch with different percentage of open area. Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, 11(2): 1268–1271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shu L C, Tao Y Z. 2009. Groundwater Hydrology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 88–90. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang D X, Liu Y R, Zhang W S, et al. 1992. Engineering Geology. Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 28. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang H X, Su Y S, Zhang H P. 1989. Experimental research on phreatic evaporation and improvement of its empirical formula. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 10: 37–44. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tindall J A, Kunkel J R, Anderson D E. 1999. Unsaturated Zone Hydrology for Scientists and Engineers. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc., 215, 230–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C J. 1993. Calculation and Evaluation of Water Resources. Nanjing: Nanjing University Press, 147–148. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang K. 2016. Soil and Crop Science (4th ed.). Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 18. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q J. 2016. Soil Physics and Crop Growth Model. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 87–93. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W Y, Shen B, Li Z L. 1994. Drain-spacing calculation considering influence of evaporation. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 120(3): 563–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams W D. 1987. Salinization of rivers and streams: an important environmental hazard. Ambio, 16(4): 180–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu H G, Zhang Z M. 1986. Meteorology. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 159. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu W C. 2011. Calculation and Management of Water Resources. Beijing: Science Press, 22–23, 96–97. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang F, Zhang G X, Yin X R, et al. 2011. Study on capillary rise from shallow groundwater and critical water table depth of a saline-sodic soil in western Songnen plain of China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 64(8): 2119–2126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Q H. 1993. Study of the evaporation of phreatic water in the northeastern margin of Tarim Basin. Xinjiang Geology, 11(3): 246–254. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zammouri M. 2001. Case study of water table evaporation at Ichkeul Marshes (Tunisia). Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 127(5): 265–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarei G, Homaee M, Liaghat A M. 2002. An analytical solution of nonsteady evaporation from bare soils with shallow ground water table. Developments in Water Science, 47(2): 113–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarei G, Homaee M, Liaghat A M. 2009. Modeling transient evaporation from descending shallow groundwater table based on Brooks-Corey retention function. Water Resources Management, 23(14): 2867–2876.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarei G, Homaee M, Liaghat A M, et al. 2010. A model for soil surface evaporation based on Campbell’s retention curve. Journal of Hydrology, 380(3–4): 356–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C X. 1996. Analysis on relationship between water surface evaporation and phreatic evaporation when phreatic depth is zero for different soils. Water Resources Research, 17(2): 27–28. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W Z. 1986. New drainage formulas considering delayed gravity response and evaporation from shallow water table. In: Smith K V H, Rycroft D W. Hydraulic Design in Water Resources Engineering: Land drainage. Berlin: Spring-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 35–47.

  • Zhang W Z. 1996. Groundwater and Soil Water Dynamics. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 239–242. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W Z, Shen R K. 1998. Groundwater and Groundwater Control. Beijing: China Water and Power Press, 102–122. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W Z. 2013. Calculation of Unsteady Flow of Groundwater and Evaluation of Groundwater Resources. Wuhan: Wuhan University Press, 10–12. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Z J. 1951. Hydrology. Shanghai: The Commercial Press, 79. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41671032, U1303181), the Key Special Project of National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0501401), and the National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB429902).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China

    Shunjun Hu, Yongde Gan & Yongbao Chen

  2. State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China

    Yongde Gan

  3. Central South Institute of Metallurgical Geology, Yichang, 443003, China

    Yongbao Chen

Authors
  1. Shunjun Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongde Gan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yongbao Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shunjun Hu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, S., Gan, Y. & Chen, Y. Comparing phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth with water surface evaporation. J. Arid Land 10, 968–976 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-018-0108-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-018-0108-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation