An analytical solution to Richards' equation for time‐varying infiltration

摘要

An analytical solution is developed for Richards equation for time‐varying infiltration. The infiltration rates must be specified as piecewise constants with time. The answer is expressed as a sum of two terms, the first is a function of the instantaneous infiltration and the second an integral which accounts for the water distribution within the profile for the previous infiltration history. The solutions assume specific forms for the soil water diffusivity and hydraulic functions used earlier by Broadbridge and White (1988