Chapters 4 and 5 dealt with one-dimensional rectilinear flow, with and without the effect of gravity. Now the focus is on multidimensional flow. We will refer to two- and three-dimensional flow based on the number of Cartesian coordinates necessary to describe the problem. For this convention, a point source emitting a volume of water per unit time results in a three-dimensional problem even if it can be described with a single spherical coordinate. Similarly, a line source would be two-dimensional even if it could be described with a single radial coordinate. A problem with axial symmetry will be termed a three-dimensional problem even when only a depth and radius are needed to describe the geometry. The pressure at a point source is undefined. But more generally, three-dimensional point sources refer to flow from finite-sized sources into a larger soil domain, such as infiltration from a small surface pond into the soil. Often, the soil domain can be taken as infinite in one or more directions. Also, a point sink can occur with flow to a sump or to a suction sampler. In two dimensions, the same types of example can be given, but we will refer to them as line sources or sinks. Practical interest in point sources includes analyses of surface or subsurface leaks and of trickle (drip) irrigation. The desirability of determining soil properties in situ has provided the impetus for a rigorous analysis of disctension and borehole infiltrometers. Also, environmental monitoring with suction cups or candles, pan lysimeters, and wicking devices all include convergent or divergent flow in multidimensions. There are some conceptual differences between line and point sources and one-dimensional sources. For discussion, consider water supplied at a constant matric potential into drier surroundings. For a one-dimensional source, the corresponding physical problem includes a planar source over an area large enough for “edge” effects to be negligible. For two dimensions, the source might be a long horizontal cylinder or a furrow of finite depth from which water flows. For three dimensions, the source could be a small orifice providing water at a finite rate or a small, shallow pond on the soil surface.
Cell size sensing—a one-dimensional solution for a three-dimensional problem?
