Quantification of soil surface evaporation under micro-scale advection in drip-irrigated fields

Abstract

The objective of this study is to quantify soil surface evaporation under micro-scale advection in drip-irrigated fields. A numerical model for estimating soil surface evaporation under micro-scale advection, assuming drip-irrigated fields, is introduced. Results indicate that the soil surface evaporation changes spatially. Soil surface evaporation at the upwind edge of wet soil portions adjacent to dry soil portions increased abruptly. On the other hand, soil surface evaporation at the upwind edge of dry soil portions adjacent to wet soil portions decreased, and condensation was observed. These phenomena were considered to be due to airflows between differing climates. To verify the accuracy of the model, an experiment using a wind tunnel was conducted. The simulated soil surface evaporation results from the model were consistent with the experimental data. The numerical model introduced here is an effective way to quantify soil surface evaporation under micro-advective conditions.