Inferring hydraulic properties using surface-based electrical resistivity during infiltration

Hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity are rock properties of primary importance for subsurface hydrologic analysis. Standard methods to determine these properties, such as ring infiltrometers, are based on adding water under constant pressure and monitoring the water flux into the ground. Ring infiltrometers are tens of centimeters in diameter. However, the concept of inferring hydraulic properties by monitoring infiltration beneath ponded water could be applied to hydrologic studies at larger scales. Two such cases, for which it may be useful to infer hydraulic properties, are artificial recharge facilities and ephemeral streams (Figure 1).