Diagnostic Curve for Estimating Soil Dispersivity and Instantaneously Injected Mass

Abstract

A diagnostic curve is developed for identification of dispersivity and injected mass in case of homogeneous and isotropic soil. The exit concentration from a soil column experiment is diagnostically plotted and matched to the diagnostic curve to yield the estimates of dispersivity and injected mass. A changed value of dispersivity can be identified during increasing versus decreasing concentrations. The new method is applicable for any value of the Péclet number or specific dispersivity. An estimate of the injected mass would be helpful in assessing the pollutant load from a point source. Thus, the new method would be useful for field application.