The capillary effects on water percolation in homogeneous snow

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Colbeck, S. C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1974
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002214300002339x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002214300002339X

A theoretical basis for introducing capillary effects into the theory of water percolation through snow is given. A capillary pressure-liquid saturation relationship found in the laboratory is used together with the theory to make a quantitative examination of capillary effects. It is shown that capillarity accounts for less than 10% of the total force when water flux is 10 –8 m s –1 although the percentage rapidly increases for smaller fluxes. The experiments suggest that the irreducible water content of dense snow is 7% of the pore volume. It is concluded that the wave-front diffusion seen in lysimeter studies is not the result of capillary action. Other possible causes are suggested.