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Time-domain reflectometry probing systems for the monitoring of hydrological processes in the unsaturated zone

Systèmes de sondes de réflectométrie dans le domaine temporel pour le suivi de processus hydrologiques dans la zone non saturée

Sistemas exploratorios de reflectometría en el dominio del tiempo para el monitoreo de procesos hidrológicos en la zona no saturada

非饱和带水文过程监测的时域反射计探头系统

Sistema de sondagem por reflectometria no domínio do tempo para o monitoramento de processos hidrológicos na zona não saturada

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Abstract

Precise measurements of the downward movement of precipitation through the unsaturated zone, as well as return flow of moisture to the atmosphere via evaporation, have always been challenging in regard to in-situ monitoring techniques. This study investigates the profile of volumetric water-content fluctuations within the unsaturated zone through a combination of field techniques, including in-situ measurements of the volumetric porewater content at different depths using specially designed time-domain reflectometry (TDR) probes. The probes are installed through direct-push vibro-coring methods, at significant depths within the unsaturated zone, providing continuous readings of the soil-moisture content throughout the unsaturated column. The measured waveform is analyzed by using the inverse modeling approach resulting in an apparent relative dielectric permittivity profile of the surrounding medium along the TDR probe length. The approach sufficiently analyzes the mechanisms of water fluxes through significant depths within the unsaturated zone, which in turn can be used to quantify groundwater recharge at areas where the unsaturated zone hydrology plays a key role in the recharge of the underlying aquifers (such as arid and hydrologically sensitive areas). The approach was applied at an experimental field site in the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany.

Résumé

La réalisation de mesures précises de l’infiltration de précipitations à travers la zone non saturée, de même que les flux de retour d’eau de l’humidité vers l’atmosphère par évaporation, a toujours constitué un véritable défi en matière de techniques de suivi in situ. Cette étude explore le profil des fluctuations de la teneur volumique en eau au sein de la zone non saturée, au travers de la combinaison de plusieurs techniques de terrain, avec notamment des mesures in-situ de la teneur volumique de l’eau interstitielle à différentes profondeurs en utilisant des sondes de réflectométrie dans le domaine du temps (TDR), spécialement conçues. Les sondes sont installées selon des méthodes de carottage assistées par vibration, à des profondeurs significatives dans la zone non saturée, permettant une lecture continue de la teneur de l’humidité du sol le long de la colonne non saturée. La forme d’onde mesurée est analysée en utilisant une approche de modélisation inverse qui se traduit par un profil de permittivité diélectrique relative apparente de l’environnement moyen le long de la sonde TDR. L’approche analyse de manière suffisante les mécanismes des flux d’eau jusqu’à des profondeurs significatives au sein de la zone non saturée, qui peuvent être utilisés pour quantifier la recharge des eaux souterraines dans des secteurs où l’hydrologie de la zone non saturée joue un rôle clef dans la recharge des aquifères sous-jacents (tels que les secteurs arides ou en situation hydrologique sensible). L’approche a été utilisée sur un site expérimental de la haute vallée du Rhin, en Allemagne.

Resumen

Las mediciones precisas del movimiento descendente de la precipitación a través de la zona no saturada, así como flujo de retorno de la humedad a la atmósfera a través de la evaporación, han sido siempre difíciles desafíos en relación a las técnicas de monitoreo in situ. Este estudio investiga el perfil de las fluctuaciones volumétricas del contenido de agua dentro de la zona no saturada a través de una combinación de técnicas de campo, incluyendo mediciones in situ del contenido volumétrico del agua poral a diferentes profundidades utilizando sondas de reflectometría especialmente diseñadas en el dominio del tiempo (TDR). Estas sondas se instalan a través de métodos de empuje directo o de extracción de sacatestigos, a profundidades significativas dentro de la zona no saturada, proporcionando lecturas continuas del contenido de humedad del suelo a través de la columna no saturada. La forma de onda medida se analizó utilizando el enfoque del modelado inverso que resultante en un perfil de permitividad aparente dieléctrica relativa del medio circundante a lo largo de la longitud de la sonda TDR. El enfoque analiza suficientemente los mecanismos de flujos de agua a través de las profundidades significativas dentro de la zona no saturada, lo cual a su vez puede ser utilizado para cuantificar la recarga de las aguas subterráneas en zonas donde la hidrología de la zona no saturada desempeña un papel clave en la recarga de los acuíferos subyacentes (tales como zonas áridas ó hidrológicamente sensibles). El enfoque se aplicó a un sitio de un campo experimental en el valle del Rin, Alemania.

摘要

降水通过非饱和带向下运移以及水分通过蒸发回流的精确测量一直是现场测量技术上的挑战。通过综合野外技术,包括采用特别设计的时域反射计探头对不同深度的容积孔隙水进行现场测量,调查了非饱和带内容积水含量波动的剖面。通过直推式震动采芯法在非饱和带内的重点深度安装探头,提供整个非饱和土柱土壤水分含量的连续读数。利用反演模拟方法分析了测量的波形,得到沿整个时域反射计探头长度周围介质明显的相对介电常数剖面。该方法充分地分析了水通量通过非饱和带内重点深度的机理,反过来,机理可以用来对非饱和带水文条件在下伏含水层(如干旱和水文上敏感区)补给中发挥关键作用的地下水补给区进行量化。该方法应用于德国莱茵河谷上游的野外试验场。.

Resumo

Medições precisas do movimento descendente da precipitação através da zona não saturada, bem como o fluxo de retorno da umidade para atmosfera por meio da evaporação, sempre foram desafiadas em detrimento à técnicas de monitoramento in-situ. Este estudo investigou a flutuação do conteúdo volumétrico de água dentro do perfil da zona não saturada através da combinação de técnicas de campo, incluído medições in-situ do conteúdo volumétrico de água intersticial em diferentes profundidades usando sondas de reflectometria no domínio do tempo (TDR) especialmente projetadas. As sondas foram instaladas através dos métodos de cravação continua (direct-push) e testemunhador por vibração (vibro-coring), em profundidades significantes dentro da zona não saturada, proporcionando leituras continuas da umidade do solo contida na coluna não saturada. A medição em forma de onda foi analisada pelo uso de aproximação por modelagem inversa resultando em um perfil aparente de permissividade dielétrica relativa do meio circundante ao longo do comprimento da sonda TDR. A abordagem analisou suficientemente o mecanismo de fluxo de água através de profundidades significantes dentro da zona não saturada, que por sua vez pode ser usada para quantificar a recarga da água subterrânea em áreas em que a hidrologia da zona não saturada desempenha um papel fundamental na recarga de aquíferos subjacentes (tal como áreas áridas e hidrologicamente sensíveis). A metodologia foi aplicada em área experimental no Alto Vale do Reno, Alemanha.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the cooperation between Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany), Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ (Leipzig, Germany), GTZ-IS (Riyadh Offices, Saudi Arabia) and the Ministry of Water and Electricity-MoWE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The work was conducted within the framework of the BMBF funded research program IWAS (http://www.iwas-sachsen.ufz.de/).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    A. Kallioras

  2. Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

    A. Khan, M. Piepenbrink & C. Schuth

  3. Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW), Karlsruhe, Germany

    H. Pfletschinger

  4. Inst Funct Interfaces & Competence, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

    F. Koniger

  5. Department Monitoring and Exploration Technologies, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

    P. Dietrich

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  1. A. Kallioras
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  2. A. Khan
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  3. M. Piepenbrink
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  4. H. Pfletschinger
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  5. F. Koniger
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  6. P. Dietrich
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  7. C. Schuth
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Correspondence to A. Kallioras.

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Kallioras, A., Khan, A., Piepenbrink, M. et al. Time-domain reflectometry probing systems for the monitoring of hydrological processes in the unsaturated zone. Hydrogeol J 24, 1297–1309 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1421-z

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