Infiltration, Runoff and

Stream flow

Ali Fares, PhD

Watershed Hydrology, NREM 691
UHM-CTAHR-NREM
 Presentation Outline
Infiltration
Definition & theory
Green-Ampt, Horton & Philip equations

Infiltration measurement
Infiltration as affected by:
Soil type
 Infiltration

Infiltration is the actual rate at which water is

entering the soil at any given time(SCSA, 1976).
Infiltration capacity: Maximum rate (LT-1).
 Measuring infiltration
Double ring infiltrometer Tension infiltrometer

Guelph Permeameter
 Infiltration Characteristics
Infiltration is influence by:
Rain intensity, - Soil type -Disturbance. - Crust
Soil cover - etc.
 Soil Type Effects on Infiltration
Sand soils have the highest infiltration rates
Clay soils have the lowest infiltration rates.
High organic matter improves infiltration rates.
 q Q
A K H
L
The flux density, q, is the
rate of water movement H1 A
through a medium.
q is a function of H and
the hydraulic conductivity
of the medium. Ksat
L
H = H1 H2 is the
difference between total
water potential inlet and
outlet.
H2
H = Pressure head +
Gravitational head
 DERIVATION OF RICHARDS
EQUATION IN RECTANGULAR
COORDINATES
The general continuity equation is:
Q=aq
where
Q is the flow rate, volume/time (L3/T)
a is the cross-section area perpendicular
to the flow, (L2)
q is the flow velocity, length/time (L/T)
 FLOW THROUGH POROUS
MEDIA
In unsaturated soil the total potential can be
estimated as the sum of the matric potential and the
gravity potential:

H h z
Since the gravity potential only acts in the vertical, or z-
direction, the total potential, H, can be replaced by the
matric potential, h, in all terms except the one involving z:
FLOW THROUGH POROUS
MEDIA
z

z
x
y
x

y
 From Continuity of mass

q in qout
t
xyz

Where is the volumetric water content

and t is time.
Applying the Darcy Law to
each velocity term:

H
vz K z
z
H
K z
z z t
 Infiltration Equations
Green-Ampt (1911):

i = ic + b/I
Where I is cumulative infiltration,
ic and b are constants.
There are several other equations:
Horton (1940)
Philip (1957)
 Hortons Equation
Assumes K and D are constants (no dependence
on q)
Richards equation reduces to the diffusion
equation dq/dt = D [d2q/dz2]
Solve the equation for the rate of moisture
diffusion at soil surface f(t) = fc + (f0 fc) ekt
k = Decay constant ~ T-1
Assume that the time evolution of the infiltration capacity for a given soil is governed by
Horton's equation (Note that this equation assumes an infinite water supply at the surface,
that is, it assumes saturation conditions at the soil surface).

(1)

For this soil, the asymptotic or final equilibrium infiltration capacity is fc = 1.25 cm/h;
and the initial infiltration capacity is fo = 8 cm/h. The rate of decay of infiltration capacity
parameter is k = 3 h-1. For the precipitation hyetograph tabulated below, carry out a
complete infiltration analysis, including evaluation of cumulative infiltration and rate of
production of precipitation excess, + v.
Time Precipitation Time Precipitation

(min) (cm/h) (min) (cm/h)

0 - 10 1.5 40 - 50 4.0

10 - 20 3.0 50 - 60 3.0

20 - 30 8.0 60 - 70 0.8

30 - 40 5.0
1. Compute accumulated precipitation volume as a function of time. The
incremental volume over each time period of 10 minutes is:

P = i t