Factors Affecting Water Vapor Flow in the Soil

Abstract

Soil water vapor movement carries mass of water and its bulk quantity in motion carries a specific amount of energy. The moment when water molecules obtain enough energy to release themselves from liquid surface, it involves phase transition from liquid to gas phase. The energy required for its release or freedom must be sourced from some energy source in the soil. The energy can come from the soil, water, or gas phase in the immediate surrounding. As such, the water phase transition into gas phase absorbs energy and causes temperature variation. Since vapor carries a significant amount of energy, its evaporation can cause a significant amount of temperature in the soil. Hence, studying vapor movement in soil and the factors affecting vapor movement is an important subject of concern. The current study is looking into factors that affect soil water vapor movement in the soil. The equation from Philip and de Vries was examined in the current study. We found that soil water vapor movement was not limited to factors affecting vapor phase, the vapor phase was in continuous interaction with other factors that affecting liquid water movement and heat flux in the soil.