Physical characteristics affecting the infiltration of high intensity rainfall into a soil profile

Flooding caused by intensive precipitation has been in the centre of attention of both general public and scientists. From the flood risk management perspective, an integrated approach to catchment management is necessary, in particular with regards to water retention capacity. Our research has been focused on the high intensity rainfall, its short duration, and an adequate infiltration capacity into the soil profile in the upper parts of the catchment, the same as on the impact of soil characteristics such as moisture content and suction pressure, in particular. The five-year research period in two sub-catchments - Cervik A and B - in the Beskydy Mts. enabled monitoring of about 300 events, and seventy of them with higher rainfall intensity were selected for further analysis. The analysis showed that the retention of an intensive precipitation was positively dependent on the instantaneous soil moisture and suction pressure. A continuous monitoring of these properties made it possible to quantify the potential runoff and the tendency to cause flooding. The analysis also showed an inverse situation in terms of the relationship between retention (and consequently runoff), suction pressure, and soil moisture content. It was therefore necessary to eliminate these by proposing suitable preventive bio-technical measures.