Introduction to Hydrology (Geog 3511)

Fall 2002

Assignment 5: Material Properties of Soil Water in the Unsaturated Zone

Symbols

density

$\rho _{m}$ - (mass) density of the solid particles

$\rho _{w}$ - (mass) density of water (MATH)

$\rho _{b}$ - bulk matrix (mass) density

$\gamma _{w}$ - weight density of water

volume

$V_{a}$ - volume of the air

$V_{w}$ - volume of liquid water

$V_{m}$ - volume of the mineral (solid)

$V_{s}$ - total volume of the sample (MATH

mass

$M_{s}$ - mass of the sample

$M_{swet}$ - mass of the sample before drying

$M_{sdry}$ - mass of the sample after drying

Darcy's Law

$q_{x}$ - volumetric flow in the x-direction MATH

$K_{h}$ - hydraulic conductivity of the medium $[LT^{-1}]$

$z$ - elevation above an arbitrary datum $\left[ L\right] $

$p$ - water pressure MATH

$\gamma _{w}$ - weight density of water MATH

$\psi $ - pressure head $\left[ L\right] $

misc

$\phi $ - porosity

$\theta $ - volumetric water content

$S$ - degree of saturation, or wetness