PNNL

Abstract

A previous investigation demonstrated that dry-end deviations from fractal scaling of the water retention of USDOE Hanford site soils set on at a moisture content closely related to the moisture content at which solute diffusion vanishes. This result was interpreted in terms of a minimum water content for percolation of filled capillaries. We now find that wet-end deviations from fractal scaling set on at approximately the same air content, inviting an explanation in terms of air percolation, at least in these relatively coarse soils.