Infiltrashastigheten

Infiltrashastigheten is a term used primarily in soil physics and environmental engineering to describe the rate at which water penetrates into the ground surface. The concept is central to understanding groundwater recharge, surface runoff, and the hydrologic balance of a region. It is typically expressed in millimeters per hour (mm/h) or centimeters per day (cm/d) and is measured using a variety of field and laboratory techniques, including the infiltration cup method, double-ring infiltrometer, and TDR (time-domain reflectometry) sensors.

The infiltration rate is influenced by several factors, such as soil texture, structure, moisture content, organic matter, and vegetation cover. Coarse-textured sandy soils generally exhibit higher infiltration speeds due to larger pore spaces, while clayey soils have slower rates because of smaller pores and greater capillary resistance. Saturated conditions can temporarily reduce infiltration through the formation of an impermeable mud layer, whereas dry soils may initially have higher rates until saturation is reached.

In practice, infiltration data are integrated into hydrologic models to predict flood risk, design drainage systems, and assess irrigation efficiency. Soil management practices, such as mulching, bioengineering, and controlled compaction, can be employed to modify infiltration rates and mitigate erosion. Accurate measurement and modeling of infiltrashastigheten are therefore essential for sustainable land use, water resource management, and ecological conservation.