A general method for quantifying random processes of water infiltration into soils to improve water security

Area of Science:

• Hydrology
• Environmental Science
• Applied Mathematics

Background:

• Increasing global water scarcity due to climate change and extreme weather patterns necessitates improved water resource management.
• Traditional methods for water infiltration assessment may not adequately address the complexities of variable rainfall and soil conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel mathematical formulas for quantifying water infiltration into soils.
• To provide accurate models for assessing rainwater harvesting and land management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of new infiltration equations from random fractional partial differential equations.
• Application of the homotopy perturbation method to derive generic cumulative infiltration equations.
• Verification of the derived equations using field-measured data.

Main Results:

• New, mathematically sound formulas for quantifying water infiltration are presented.
• The derived equations can model infiltration with both random and deterministic parameters.
• Demonstrated application in assessing infiltration under different land surface covers.

Conclusions:

• The new infiltration equations offer a robust tool for understanding and managing water resources.
• These models have significant implications for cost-effective land management and environmental protection.
• The equations are applicable to both rural and urban soil infiltration assessments.