Seepage mechanisms and permeability differences between loess and paleosols in the critical zone of the Loess Plateau

Abstract

The soil in the Loess Plateau has special permeability characteristics due to the alternating distribution of loess and paleosol layers. Using an analysis of the physical properties, microstructure and thermogravimetric analysis of loess and paleosol, this paper examines strata seepage mechanisms in the loess tableland area and considers the applicability of a hydraulic conductivity empirical formula. The analysis shows that hydraulic conductivity attenuation with depth can be represented by a negative exponential model, while hydraulic conductivity values are not normally distributed. The best-fitting models of hydraulic conductivity in the horizontal (K H ) and vertical (K V ) directions are Gaussian models, and both have strong spatial correlations. This study