Hi Salman,

that is a very interesting question. First I assume that we need to distinguish the cause of water rising. This could be

a) flooding with fresh water input from extreme rainfall (high oxygen levels, low dissolved components, low in particle matter, pH?) or

b) flooding from close by river systems (low to high in oxygen levels, pH most likely more acidic, high particle matter, high dissolved components)

c) flooding from marine or  or brakish sources (e.g. Tsunami, spring floods, high in dissolved and salt components, pH more alkaline, higher oxygen levels)

d) flooding from increasing groundwater levels (could be low or high in oxygen levels, likewise various levels in dissolved components and pH)

e) time length, intensity and water volume exchanged due to flooding, interaction with other local water systems are relevant as well

This baseline scenario needs to be clarified to better understand interaction with local soil conditions.

Likewise the local soil itself (soil type?!) will show various responses depending on its special physical-chemical-biological conditions such as grain size distribution and porosity/permeability, organic content, mineral framework of soil matrix, presence of clay minerals (swelling?) nutrient content, pH etc

As a first effect of flooding we can assume that majority of (soil air) components contained in the soil pores will be pushed out / transported away by the incoming water fluxes. The replaced new fluid will trigger changes in soil-water-chemistry and could either clogg (decrease permeability through closing of soil pores due to mud input) or increase reactions (increased adsorption, or increase/decrease of dissolved components from changes in soil re-/interaction, or clogging to secondary mineralization effects triggered by changed physical-chemical conditions) and particle exchange. To understand a specific system and to estimate relevant changes after a flood event I assume that the clarification of baseline situation and modelling of changes after the flood event needs to assess the above mentioned parameters and their changes as far as possible.  I am not aware of a PC supported model that allows to quickly assess these complex water-soil-flood changes.

Hope that this helps your research.

Kind regards,

Johannes

Dear Dr. Ammar; the mechanical strength of the soil mass is affected significantly by rising or lowering of underground water table. The type of effect is depended on the type of soil itself (coarse grained or fine grained soil). for example, if after rising the water table and then lowering, the piping may be happened in the granular soils.

Dear Dr. Ammar, 

Kindly check software package HYDRUS 1D (www.pc-progress.com) for soil-water modelling.