Stochastic Modeling of Water Flows in Unsaturated Zones.

Conceptual modeling of water flows in an unsaturated porous medium is coupled with a statistical description of the hydrodynamic parameters in order to simulate the hydric behavior of the spatially variable subsurface formations. The spatial heterogeneity of the properties of retention and conductivity of the ground is described by a single parameter, namely the scaling factor. The stochastic approach to gravity drainage to vertical infiltration under head and to the two-dimensional steady state corresponding to microirrigation, are compared with the experimental results. The results show that the conceptual stochastic model presented is in good agreement with experiments.