Sediment moisture relations: lysimeter project, 1976--1977 water year

Two large field lysimeters were constructed in 1971 at Hanford Reservation to evaluate the possible vertical movement of naturally occurring sediment moisture. These lysimeters are located approximately one mile south of the 200 East Area. This report presents and evaluates sediment moisture data collected at the lysimeter site from September 1976 through August 1977. The data reveal that the moisture content of the upper 12 meters of the lysimeters was nonuniform and did change from month to month. These changes in moisture content were in response to monthly fluctuations in surface precipitation and solar radiation. No significant changes in moisture content were recorded below the 12-meter depth throughout the year. The reliability of liquid phase flux estimation was evaluated