Estimation of Temporal Changes in Soil Moisture Using Resistivity Method

Abstract

The temporal variation in a soil moisture profile can be studied using resistivity sounding data acquired at different times. The layered earth model based estimation of soil moisture from apparent resistivity data is a two-step non-linear inversion. Firstly, the apparent resistivity data are inverted to derive the layer resistivity variations and thicknesses and, secondly, the moisture content is estimated from these layer resistivity variations using a calibration equation. The soil moisture-resistivity problem was studied using the one-dimensional formulation of resistivity problem. A generalized geoelectric earth model was considered to simulate the soil moisture distribution and its temporal variation in the unsaturated zone. An algorithm (RESMOS) for the interpretation of the apparent resistivity data in terms of soil moisture variations through this two-step inversion process is reported.

On the value of soil moisture measurements in vadose zone hydrology: A review

“…Contact‐based methods require direct contact with the soil. Examples of contact methods include capacitance sensors [e.g., Dean et al , 1987; Bell et al , 1987; Blonquist et al , 2005a, 2005b; Fares and Polyakov , 2006; Bogena et al , 2007], time domain reflectometry [ Topp , 2003; Robinson et al , 2003], electrical resistivity measurements [e.g., Goyal et al , 1996; Hymer et al , 2000; Zhou et al , 2001; Michot et al , 2003; Samouelian et al , 2005], heat pulse sensors [ Valente et al , 2006], fiber optic sensors [ Alessi and Prunty , 1986; Garrido et al , 1999; Fields et al , 2000; Robinson et al , 2008] and destructive sampling (e.g., gravimetric methods). These measurement techniques typically provide spatially and temporally highly resolved measurements at the point scale (e.g., vertical soil moisture profile) and the spatial‐temporal dynamics of soil moisture at the field scale.…”

Soil Moisture Measurement for Ecological and Hydrological Watershed‐Scale Observatories: A Review

“…Advances in electronic switching means that tens of electrodes can be measured in a few tens of minutes, providing spatially exhaustive data along transects. This advanced capability has created a renewed interest in monitoring soil properties and processes using the method (Samouelian et al, 2005; Michot et al, 2003; Zhou et al, 2001; Goyal et al, 1996). The resistivity measurements provide a two‐dimensional profile and can be used to determine static properties such as subsurface structure and texture, as well as temporal changes associated with θ, or water chemistry (Samouelian et al, 2005).…”

“…Figure 11, adapted from Michot et al (2003), shows how the resistivity image gives a two‐dimensional slice so that θ changes can be observed spatially in the soil profile. Resistivity imaging as illustrated here is possible at submeter‐ to tens‐of‐meter scales in the field and has been used mostly for monitoring tracer tests (Singha and Gorelick, 2005) and qualitative changes in θ (Amidu and Dunbar, 2007; Goyal et al, 1996).…”

Assessing the structure and composition of artificial levees along the Lower Tisza River (Hungary)

“…Oludayo, 2021;Siddiqui & Osman 2012;Cosenza et al, 2006;Sudha et al, 2009;Samouelian et al, 2005), whereas increasing water content has a reverse effect (Loke, 2004;Pozdnyakova & Pozdnyakova, 2002;Abu-Hassanein et al, 1996;Yoon & Park 2001;McCarter, 1984;Michot et al, 2000;Fukue et al, 1999). Goyal, et al (1996); Gupta and Hanks (1972) proposed an empirical linear relationship between resistivity and water content. Consequently, we also investigated the effect of these parameters on the measured resistivity to see to what extent structural units can be separated.…”