Three-Dimensional Water Content Estimation Using Ground Penetrating Radar Groundwave Techniques.

Abstract

Accurate characterization of near-surface soil water content is important for optimizing crop yields, determining the scheduling and volumes of irrigation, and preventing groundwater degradation from agrochemicals leaching through the vadose zone. Characterizing the near-surface soil water content using conventional methods can be difficult, as this parameter is highly variable both spatially and temporally, and most methods obtain only a limited number of point measurements. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) groundwave techniques can be used to quickly obtain many water content measurements over a large area, but the efficacy of these techniques is limited by the uncertainty of the groundwave penetration depth. In this project, we seek to experimentally determine the penetration depth of the GPR groundwave as a function of GPR frequency, soil moisture, and soil texture.