Source: PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
CHARACTERIZING MASS AND ENERGY TRANSPORT AT DIFFERENT VADOSE ZONE SCALES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0220483
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
W-2188
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2009
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2014
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
208 MUELLER LABORATORY
UNIVERSITY PARK,PA 16802
Performing Department
Ecosystem Science & Management
Non Technical Summary
Quantification of preferential flow networks and solute transport patterns at the pore scale to the hillslope scale is important to enhance our understanding of flow dynamics in structured soils. We plan to use a combination of noninvasive techniques (CT and GPR) and real-time in situ monitoring to investigate the architecture of flow networks in the subsurface and related transport processes across spatial and temporal scales.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
10201992050100%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0199 - Soil and land, general;

Field Of Science
2050 - Hydrology;
Goals / Objectives
To improve our fundamental understanding of vadose zone physical properties and processes, and how they interact with other environmental and biogeochemical processes across various spatial and temporal scales. To develop and evaluate new instruments and analytical methods to connect our understanding of mass and energy transport in the vadose zone at different scales and environmental transformations. To apply our knowledge of scale-appropriate methodologies to enhance the management of vadose zone resources that benefit agricultural systems, natural resources and environmental sustainability.
Project Methods
1. Use the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) to monitor and model subsurface flow and transport dynamics through soil moisture and soil water chemistry monitoring at multiple depths (from the surface down to soil-bedrock interface) at the point, hillslope, and catchment scales based on 10-minute (automatic monitoring stations) or weekly (manual monitoring stations) data collections; 2. Use a combination of computing tomography (CT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) to investigate pore network and subsurface flow at the pore to hillslope scales. Intact soil columns will be collected for CT imaging and solute breakthrough experiments. GPR experiments will be conducted in situ at the Shale Hills CZO.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Researchers, educators, students, and practitioners who are interested in the interface between soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geo-sciences. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We have used the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory and two other landscapes near Penn State (the Penn State’s Kepler Farm and Living Filter) as platforms to enrich the experience of seven visiting scholars from China as well as the training for two graduate students and one undergraduate. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Project results have been disseminated in the classroom teaching (Soils 405 Hydropedology and Soils 507 Environmental Soil Physics), a number of volunteered presentations given by my students and other group members, as well as a number of invited presentations at international (11) and national (2) professional meetings What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to continue the advancement of quantifying and synthesizing preferential flow occurrence in various landscapes and under diverse conditions. We plan to synthesize spatial-temporal patterns of preferential flow occurrence in relation to soil, terrain, vegetation, precipitation, and season. In addition, we plan to refine the new time-lapsed GPR protocol and the Hydropedograph toolbox for detecting and quantifying preferential flow occurrence.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have developed a new protocol to reconstruct subsurface lateral preferential flow networks. This is the first time that a detailed subsurface lateral preferential flow network and its dynamics have been revealed non-invasively along a hillslope using time-lapsed ground-penetrating radar. In addition, we have shown the benefits of applying flue gas desulphurization (FGD) gypsum and leaching water in improving pore structure critical for sodic soil water flow, and demonstrated that a balanced amount of FGD gypsum and leaching water based on pore structure improvement is needed for achieving optimal sodic soil reclamation outcome.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Yu, H.L., P. Yang, S. Ren, X. He, and H.S. Lin. 2014. Effects of sodic soil reclamation using flue gas desulphurized gypsum on soil pore characteristics, bulk density, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78:1201-1213. doi:10.2136/sssaj2013.08.0352.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Guo, L., H.S. Lin, and J. Chen. 2014. Subsurface Lateral Flow Network on a Hillslope Revealed by Time-lapse Ground Penetrating Radar. Water Resource Research 10.1002/2013WR014603.


Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Researchers, educators, students, and practitioners who are interested in the interface between soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geo-sciences. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We have used the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory as a platform to enrich the experience of several visiting scholars from China as well as the training for two graduate students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Project results have been disseminated in the classroom teaching, many volunteered presentations, and a number of invited presentations (8 international and 3 national). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? To continue to use the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory to advance hydropedology, hillslope/catchment hydrology, and hydrogeophysics. We particularly hope to focus on the following: 1) To classify soil moisture spatial-temporal patterns as influenced by soil, terrain, vegetation, precipitation, and season, and 2) To model preferential flow dynamics from the pedon to the hillslope and catchment scales.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 8 journal articles published. We have made important progress on preferential flow characterization using ground-penetrating radar and in situ monitoring. We have identified and proved flow in fractured shale bedrocks. We also developed a simple geomorphic-based analytical model from the dynamic equations of soil thickness evolution for the Shale Hills.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: 1. Zhang, J., H.S. Lin, and J. Doolittle. 2014. Soil Layering and Preferential Flow Impacts on Seasonal Changes of GPR Signals in Two Contrasting Soils. Geoderma 213:560569. 2. Liu, J.T., X. Chen, H.S. Lin, H. Liu, and H. Song. 2014. A simple geomorphic-based analytical model for predicting the spatial distribution of soil thickness in headwater hillslopes and catchments. Water Resour. Res. (accepted) 3. Guo, L., H.S. Lin, B. Fan, X. Cui, and J. Chen. 2013. Impact of root water content on root biomass estimation using ground penetrating radar: evidence from forward simulations and field controlled experiments. Plant and Soil 1-18. DOI 10.1007/s11104-013-1710-4. 4. Guo, L., H.S. Lin, B. Fan, X. Cui, and J. Chen. 2013. Forward simulation of roots ground penetrating radar signal: simulator development and validation. Plant and Soil 1-19. DOI 10.1007/s11104-013-1751-8 5. Guo, L., J. Chen, X. Cui, B. Fan, and H.S. Lin. 2013. Application of Ground Penetrating Radar for Coarse Root Detection and Quantification: A Review. Plant and Soil 362:1-23. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-012-1455-5. 6. Meinzer, R., D. R. Woodruff, D. M. Eissenstat, H.S. Lin, T. Adams, K. A. McCulloh. 2013. Above- and belowground controls on water use by trees of different wood types in an eastern United States deciduous forest. Tree Physiology 33:345-356, doi:10.1093/treephys/tpt012. 7. Naithani, K.J., D. Baldwin, K. Gaines, H.S. Lin, D.M. Eissenstat. 2013. Spatial distribution of tree species governs the spatio-temporal interaction of leaf area and soil moisture across a landscape. PLoS ONE 8:e58704. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058704. 8. Thomas, E, H.S. Lin, C. Duffy, P. Sullivan, G. Holmes, L. Jin, and S. Brantley. 2013. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Stable Isotope Compositions at the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory: Linkages to Subsurface Hydrologic Processes. Vadose Zone J. doi:10.2136/vzj2013.01.0029


Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 1st edited volume of hydropedology book has been published and well received by the community. The 2nd International Conference on Hydropedology was successfully held in July 2012 in Leipzig, Germany. PARTICIPANTS: Henry Lin, Chris Graham, Doug Baldwin, Jialiang Tang, and Li Guo. TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers, educators, students, and practitioners who are interested in the interface between soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geo-sciences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The project outcomes have advanced both the theoretical underpinning and practical applications of soil architecture and preferential flow from the pore scale to the landscape scale, which have impacts on the next generation of hydropedologic models and as optimal land use and management.

Publications

  • Lin, H. S. (Editor). 2012. Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Academic Press/Elsevier pp. 844.
  • Tang, J., B. Zhu, T. Wang, X. Cheng, M. Gao, and H. S. Lin. 2012. Subsurface flow processes in sloping cropland of purple soil. Journal of Mountain Science 9:1-9.
  • Guo, L., J. Chen, X. Cui, B. Fan, and H. S. Lin. 2012. Application of Ground Penetrating Radar for Coarse Root Detection and Quantification: A Review. Plant and Soil http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1455-5.
  • Lin, H. S. 2012. Hydropedology: Addressing fundamentals and building bridges to understand complex pedologic and hydrologic interactions. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 3-40.
  • Lin, H. S. 2012. Understanding soil architecture and its functional manifestation across scales. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 41-74.
  • Kleidon, A., E. Zehe, and H. S. Lin. 2012. Thermodynamic Limits in the Critical Zone and Its Relevance to Hydropedology. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 243-284.
  • Wilding, L., M. Nobles, B. Wilcox, C. Woodruff, Jr., and H. S. Lin. 2012. Hydropedology in Caliche Soils Weathered from Glen Rose Limestone of Lower Cretaceous Age in Texas. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier. p 285-328.
  • Zhao, Y., J. Tang, C. Graham, Q. Zhu, K. Takagi, and H. S. Lin. 2012. Hydropedology in the Ridge and Valley: Soil Moisture Patterns and Preferential Flow Dynamics in Two Contrasting Landscapes. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 381-412.
  • Lin, H. S. 2012. Hydropedology: Summary and outlook. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 759-782.
  • Doolittle, J., Q. Zhu, J. Zhang, L. Guo, and H. S. Lin. 2012. Geophysical Investigations of Soil-Landscape Architecture and Its Impacts on Subsurface Flow. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 413-448.
  • Graham, C. and H. S. Lin. 2012. Subsurface Flow Networks at the Hillslope Scale: Detection and Modeling. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 559-594.
  • Li, X., H. S. Lin, and D. Levia. 2012. Coupling Ecohydrology and Hydropedology at Different Spatio-Temporal Scales in Water-Limited Ecosystems. In H. Lin (Editor) Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology. Elsevier p. 737-758.


Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project has characterized mass and energy transport at different vadose zone scales from the perspectives of both fundamental theory and real-world monitoring. On the conceptual and theoretical front, non-equilibrium thermodynamics and evolving network theory have been explored to provide new way of characterizing mass and energy transport in complex soil systems. On the real-process monitoring front, extensive soil moisture and temperature sensors have been deployed in three contrasting landscapes in central Pennsylvania to collect real-time data to reveal soil hydrologic processes across scales. The project has also made the explicit connection between flow regimes in soils and soil formation and evolution, which offers new insights into interactive pedologic and hydrologic processes across scales. PARTICIPANTS: Henry Lin, Chris Graham, Jun Zhang, Danielle Andrews, Doug Baldwin, and Jialiang Tang. TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers, educators, students, and practitioners who are interested in the interface between soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geo-sciences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Soil and water research requires enhanced understanding of processes at environmental interfaces, approaches for integrating across scales, and improved coupling of biological and physiochemical processes. Collectively, an integrated, interdisciplinary, and multiscale effort can advance our forecasts and plans for changes and more effectively address critical societal issues, including sustainability, climate change, environmental quality, ecosystem services, and water resources. The emerging Critical Zone concept provides a unifying framework for the holistic study of the near-surface terrestrial environment and offers a most fertile ground for interdisciplinary research across wide spatial and temporal scales.

Publications

  • Lin, H. S., J. Hopmans, and D. Richter (Editors). 2011. Interdisciplinary Sciences in the Critical Zone Observatories. Vadose Zone Journal (special issue) 10:781-987.
  • Lin, H. S. 2011. Three principles of soil change and pedogenesis in time and space. Soil Science Society of America Journal 75:1-22.
  • Lin, H. S. 2011. Hydropedology: Towards new insights into interactive pedologic and hydrologic processes in the landscape. Journal of Hydrology 406:141-145.
  • Lin, H. S., J. Hopmans, and D. Richter. 2011. Interdisciplinary sciences in a global network of Critical Zone Observatories. Vadose Zone Journal 10:781-785.
  • Graham, C. and H. S. Lin. 2011. Controls and frequency of preferential flow occurrence: A 175-event analysis. Vadose Zone Journal 10:816-831.
  • Takagi, K. and H. S. Lin. 2011. Temporal evolution of soil moisture spatial variability in the Shale Hills catchment. Vadose Zone Journal 10:832-842.
  • Andrews, D. M., H. S. Lin, Q. Zhu, L. Jin, and S. L. Brantley. 2011. Dissolved organic carbon export and soil carbon storage in the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory. Vadose Zone Journal 10:943-954.
  • Jin, L., D. M. Andrews, G. H. Holmes, H. S. Lin, and S. L. Brantley. 2011. Opening the "black box": Water chemistry reveals hydrological controls on weathering in the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory. Vadose Zone Journal 10:928-942.
  • Castellano, M. J., J. P. Schmidt, J. P. Kaye, C. Walker, C. Graham, H. S. Lin, and C. Dell. 2011. Hydrological controls on heterotrophic soil respiration across an agricultural landscape. Geoderma 162:273-280.
  • Li, X. Y., S. Contreras, A. Sole-Benet, Y. Canton, F. Domingo, R. Lazaro, H. S. Lin, B. Van Wesemael, and J. Puigdefabregas. 2011. Controlling factors of infiltration at three spatial scales in a mountainous dry Mediterranean shrubland on dolomite. Catena 86:98-109.
  • Akbar, T. A., H. S. Lin, and J. P. DeGroote. 2011. Development and Evaluation of GIS-based ArcPRZM-3 System for Spatial Modeling of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination. Computers & Geosciences 37:822-830.
  • Zhu, Q. and H. S. Lin. 2011. Impacts of soil properties, terrain attributes, and crop growth on soil moisture in an agricultural landscape. Geoderma 163:45-54.


Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: We have investigated both the theoretical underpinning and the practical applications of various advanced tools for understanding soil architecture and preferential flow from the pore scale to the landscape scale. We used computed tomography for quantifying macropore networks in intact soil columns, compared the flow pathways of bromide and Brilliant Blue FCF tracers in caliche soils, and innovatively developed repeated electromagnetic induction surveys for determining subsurface hydrologic dynamics across the landscape. The theories of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, constructal theory, and evolving networks provide interesting perspectives towards a more unified and physics-based understanding and prediction of preferential flow, which is closely linked to soil formation and evolution. PARTICIPANTS: Henry Lin, Chris Graham, Jun Zhang, Danielle Andrews, Doug Baldwin TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers, educators and students who are interested in the interface between soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geo-sciences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The lack of preferential flow theory in soils requires concerted efforts from the community to synthesize concepts and advance techniques for measuring and modeling soil architecture and preferential flow across space and time. Together, the theories of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, constructal theory, and evolving networks provide a thought-provoking new path for understanding the genesis and evolution of subsurface heterogeneity, its architecture, and fundamental controls on network-like flow regimes in the belowground world.

Publications

  • Lin, H. S., H. J. Vogel, and J. Seibert (Editors). 2009. Earth's Critical Zone and Hydropedology. Hydrology and Earth System Science. http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/special_issue37.html.
  • Lin, H. S., H. Fluhler, W. Otten, and H. J. Vogel (Editors). 2010. Soil Architecture and Preferential Flow across Scales. Journal of Hydrology 393(1-2):1-142.
  • Lin, H. S. 2010. Sowing the seeds of soil conservation. Science 327:1078.
  • Lin, H. S. 2010. Earth's Critical Zone and hydropedology: Concepts, characteristics, and advances. Hydrology and Earth System Science 14:25-45.
  • Lin, H. S. 2010. Comments on energy-based pedogenic models by Field and Minasny (2008) and Rasmussen (2008). Soil Science Society of America Journal 74:337-339.
  • Lin, H. S. 2010. Linking principles of soil formation and flow regimes. Journal of Hydrology 393:3-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.02.013.
  • Lin, H. S., H. J. Vogel, and J. Seibert. 2010. Towards holistic studies of the Earth's Critical Zone: Hydropedology perspectives. Hydrology and Earth System Science 14:479-480.
  • Lin, H. S., H. Fluhler, W. Otten, and H. J. Vogel. 2010. Soil architecture and preferential flow across scales. Journal of Hydrology 393:1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.07.026.
  • Zhu, Q., H. S. Lin, and J. Doolittle. 2010. Repeated electromagnetic induction surveys for determining subsurface hydrologic dynamics in an agricultural landscape. Soil Science Society of America Journal 74:1750-1762.
  • Zhu, Q., H. S. Lin, and J. Doolittle. 2010. Repeated electromagnetic induction surveys for improving soil mapping in an agricultural landscape. Soil Science Society of America Journal 74:1763-1774.
  • Castellano, M.J., J.P. Schmidt, J.P. Kaye, C. Walker, C. Graham, H.S. Lin, and C. Dell. 2010. Hydrological and biogeochemical controls on the timing and magnitude of nitrous oxide flux across an agricultural landscape. Global Change Biology 16:2711-2720. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.02116.x.
  • Zhao, Y., S. Peth, X. Y. Wang, H. S. Lin, and R. Horn. 2010. Temporal stability of surface soil moisture spatial patterns and their controlling factors in a semi-arid steppe. Hydrological Processes 24:2507-2519. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7665.
  • Luo, L. F., H. S. Lin, and S. C. Li. 2010. Quantification of 3-D soil macropore networks in different soil types and land uses. Journal of Hydrology 393:53-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.03.031.
  • Luo, L. F., H. S. Lin, and J. Schmidt. 2010. Quantitative relationships between soil macropore characteristics and preferential flow and transport. Soil Science Society of America Journal 74:1929-1937.
  • Nobles, M. M., L. P. Wilding, and H. S. Lin. 2010. Flow pathways of bromide and Brilliant Blue FCF tracers in caliche soils. Journal of Hydrology 393:114-122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.03.014.