Abstract
Contaminant transport to groundwater systems through the unsaturated zone follows, in most cases, preferential pathways. The understanding and assessment of this preferential flow mechanism is important to the prevention and solution of resulting problems. A column study was carried out where a NaCl-tracer solution (33 to 37 mmohs/cm of conductivity) was passed through an intact soil core under saturated conditions and three different ponding heights ranging from 5 to 30 mm. Outflow rates varied from 13 to 103 ml/min during the three tests performed. A subsequent dye tracing and slicing of the soil column was performed. Electrical conductivity measurements assessed indirectly the chloride content of the water outflow. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) showed short threshold times (less than 20% pore volume time) and asymmetry with respect to the point defined by C/Co = 0.5 and pore volume time. The BTCs successfully represent the flow measurements through the soil column, this fact is supported by the subsequent horizontal slicing (5 cm thick) of the intact core.
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Tonguç, F., Merdun, H. Solute movement in an intact soil core under different ponding heights. Eurasian Soil Sc. 42, 1497–1503 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229309130109
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229309130109