A sensitivity analysis of the Jackson method of predicting unsaturated hydraulic conductivity

Abstract

An assessment is made of the sensitivity of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity predictions from the Jackson model to changes in the measured moisture characteristic and matching factor hydraulic conductivity inputs. The model is shown to be sensitive to the volumetric water content corresponding to the matching factor hydraulic conductivity as well as to the 0 to -1.0 kPa matric potential section of the moisture characteristic input. The significance of this sensitivity is dependent on intended use of the data. Where accurate conductivity prediction is required over a small range of water contents near saturation, the moisture characteristic input used with this model should include measured points between 0 and 1.0 kPa matric potential.