HR: 1330h
AN: H32A-0513    [PDF]
TI: Water Content Sensors For Use In Lab Columns
AU: * Sisson, J B
EM: jys@inel.gov
AF: Buck Sisson INEEL, PO Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 United States
AB: Vadose zone hydrologic studies require accurate and reproducible estimates of the soil water content. When lab and field data need to be comparable, the use of the same sensor type in the field and lab would simplify the comparison process. We modified, built and calibrated 2 versions of electromagnetic sensors that are commonly used in the field, for use in 5 cm dia soil columns. The calibrations were found to depend on salinity levels and to benefit from the application of dielectric coating on the exposed electrodes. Both types of sensor were found to produce highly repeatable data typically +/- 0.0002 m$^3$/m$^3$.
DE: 0624 Guided waves
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1848 Networks
DE: 1866 Soil moisture
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting