Lesson 14: Green-Ampt Infiltration Equations

Water Content

Depth z

Wetted
Zone
Wetted Front
2

initial moisture content

moisture content at saturation (porosity)

increase in moisture content at the wetting front ( = i)

depth to wetting front

h0

ponding depth

Lesson 14: Green-Ampt Infiltration Equations

Equations
+ F * (t )
f * (t ) = K

F * (t )

potential infiltration rate

F * (t )

F * (t ) = Kt + ln1 +

potential cumulative infiltration

tp =

K
i (i K )

F p = it p

t0 = t p

ponding time
cumulative infiltration at ponding

1
K

F p

F p ln1 +

equivalent time origin

F (t )

F (t ) = K (t t 0 ) + ln1 +

actual infiltration (after ponding)

+ F (t )
f (t ) = K
F (t )

actual infiltration rate (after ponding)

Parameters
Green-Ampt parameters are determined by soil class based on the Brooks-Corey
parameterization:

(see Table 4.3.1 by soil class).

(see Table 4.3.1 by soil class)

Lesson 14: Green-Ampt Infiltration Equations

Initial Conditions
The initial moisture conditions can be chosen in several ways. One approach is to specify
i directly. Then is found using:
= i
Another approach uses the effective saturation se, which ranges from 0 (dry) to 1
(saturated). Then is found using:
= (1 s e ) e
where e is the effective porosity (see Table 4.3.1 by soil class), and is defined as:

e = r
where r is the residual water content.