HYDROLOGIC EQUATIONS

INFILTRATION
Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
Infiltration rate is a measure of the temporal rate at which soil is able to
absorb rainfall or irrigation. It is most often measured in millimeters per hour or
inches per hour. The rate decreases as the soil becomes saturated.
Horton's equation is used in measuring ground infiltration rates or volumes.
Horton expressed the infiltration rate as:
f = fc + (fo – fc) e-kt => this expression assumes that
the rate of precipitation is
greater than the rate of infiltration.
where:
f = infiltration rate
fc = equilibrium or final infiltration rate, mm/h
fo = initial infiltration rate, mm/h
k = empirical constant, h-1
t = time, h
Integration of Horton’s equation yields the volume,
𝑓𝑜 −𝑓𝑐
V = fct + (1 – e –kt)
𝑘

where:
V = volume
fc = equilibrium or final infiltration rate, mm/h
fo = initial infiltration rate, mm/h
k = empirical constant, h-1
t = time, h
EVAPORATION
Evaporation is the process by which water changes from liquid form to gas or
vapor.
Dalton’s Evaporation Formula
E = (es – ea) (a + bu)
where:
E = evaporation rate, mm/h
es = saturation vapor pressure, kPa
ea = vapor pressure in overlying air, kPa
a , b = empirical constant
u = wind speed, m/s
Empirical studies at lake Hefner, Oklahoma,
yielded a similar relationship.
E = 1.22 (es – ea) u
where:
E = evaporation rate, mm/h
es = saturation vapor pressure, kPa
ea = vapor pressure in overlying air, kPa
u = wind speed, m/s
Note: From these expressions, it is apparent that high wind speeds and low
humidity (vapor pressure in overlying air) result in large evaporation rates.