TY - JOUR
T1 - K in an Urban World
T2 - New Contexts for Hydraulic Conductivity
AU - Shuster, W. D.
AU - Schifman, Laura
AU - Kelleher, Christa
AU - Golden, Heather E.
AU - Bhaskar, Aditi S.
AU - Parolari, Anthony J.
AU - Stewart, Ryan D.
AU - Herrmann, Dustin L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Water Resources Association
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Hydraulic conductivity (K) is a key hydrologic parameter widely recognized to be difficult to estimate and constrain, with little consistent assessment in disturbed, urbanized soils. To estimate K, it is either measured, or simulated by pedotransfer functions, which relate K to easily measured soil properties. We measured K in urbanized soils by double-ring infiltrometer (Kdring), near-saturated tension infiltrometry (Kminidisk), and constant head borehole permeametry (Kborehole), along with other soil properties across the major soil orders in 12 United States cities. We compared measured K with that predicted from the pedotransfer function, ROSETTA. We found that regardless of soil texture, Kdring was consistently larger than Kminidisk; with the latter having slightly less sample variance. Kborehole was dependent upon specific subsurface conditions, and contrary to common expectations, did not always decrease with depth. Based on either soil textural class, or percent textural separates (sand, silt clay), ROSETTA did not accurately predict measured K for surface nor subsurface soils. We go on to discuss how K varies in urban landscapes, the role of measurement methods and artifacts in the perception of this metric, and implications for hydrologic modeling. Overall, we aim to inspire consistency and coherence when addressing K-related challenges in sustainable urban water management.
AB - Hydraulic conductivity (K) is a key hydrologic parameter widely recognized to be difficult to estimate and constrain, with little consistent assessment in disturbed, urbanized soils. To estimate K, it is either measured, or simulated by pedotransfer functions, which relate K to easily measured soil properties. We measured K in urbanized soils by double-ring infiltrometer (Kdring), near-saturated tension infiltrometry (Kminidisk), and constant head borehole permeametry (Kborehole), along with other soil properties across the major soil orders in 12 United States cities. We compared measured K with that predicted from the pedotransfer function, ROSETTA. We found that regardless of soil texture, Kdring was consistently larger than Kminidisk; with the latter having slightly less sample variance. Kborehole was dependent upon specific subsurface conditions, and contrary to common expectations, did not always decrease with depth. Based on either soil textural class, or percent textural separates (sand, silt clay), ROSETTA did not accurately predict measured K for surface nor subsurface soils. We go on to discuss how K varies in urban landscapes, the role of measurement methods and artifacts in the perception of this metric, and implications for hydrologic modeling. Overall, we aim to inspire consistency and coherence when addressing K-related challenges in sustainable urban water management.
KW - hydraulic conductivity
KW - hydrologic modeling
KW - infiltration
KW - urban hydrology
KW - urban soils
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U2 - 10.1111/1752-1688.12918
DO - 10.1111/1752-1688.12918
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85106321961
SN - 1093-474X
VL - 57
SP - 493
EP - 504
JO - Journal of the American Water Resources Association
JF - Journal of the American Water Resources Association
IS - 3
ER -