Specifying Initial Hydraulic Condition

Initial Hydraulic condition may be specified as one of the following:

1. Initial equilibrium profile: the pressure head equals the negative elevation head above a water table. The user may also replace the upper part of the equilibrium profile by a constant minimum pressure head. (see figure).

2. Initial pressure head: Specified by drawing contour lines of equal pressure head (see figure).

3. Initial moisture content: Specified by drawing contour lines of equal moisture content (see figure). (This option is not available when the hydraulic characteristic function is given by tabular data.)

Notes:

1. When feasible, starting the simulation from an equilibrium state is recommended.
2. If initial condition does not represent an equilibrium state, then the simulation will include transient effects arising from the initial non-equilibrium state.

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