Multidimensional Infiltration with Arbitrary Surface Fluxes

Abstract

A new solution to the multidimensional linearized Richards equation was derived using a Fourier integral transform. Exponential functional forms k = kseαψ and θ = θr + (θs − θr)eαψ were used to represent the hydraulic conductivity and pressure relation and the soil water release curve. The analytical solutions consider the conditions of time dependence and nonuniform distribution of rainfall intensity and arbitrary initial water content distribution with a water table. The analytical solutions can be used to predict the ponding time and to obtain the volumetric water content distribution over time and space.