Using Simulation-Based Animations in Teaching Soil Physics.

Teaching of soil physics to undergraduate students and the public generally requires a minimal reliance on mathematics. The dynamic aspect of soil physics is also more engaging to these individuals. Thus, I have created multiple, quantitative animations of water, heat and solute transport for use as teaching tools. At the core of these animations are case-study, simulation results from HYDRUS-2D (H2D) and SHAW. Time slices from H2D, or time sequence DPLOT graphs from SHAW results are subsequently assembled in Photoshop ImageMaker to create portable gif files. The effects on water flow of soil texture, soil layering, drainage and putting green slope differences between these case studies are illustrated using time-changing water contents and Darcian velocity vectors. Diurnal energy balance, vegetation and soil effects on heat flow are illustrated with animations of soil temperature with depth and time. Solute transport is demonstrated via a saline water irrigation scenario, where salinity is assumed to be a non-volatile, non-reactive solute in high sand content soils. I have also found it quite useful to include a plant in the simulation and to create conditions that would lead to drought, aeration, or salinity stress. Example scenarios and animations will be presented.