Calibration of Soil Heat and Water Flux Meters

Philip (3) applied the theory of heat flow in a heterogeneous system to the design of soil heat flux meters. Soil water flux meters operate on similar principles and have been studied by Cary (1, 2). Both the heat and water flux meters must be precalibrated. The calibration depends upon the conductivity of the soil, and so the variability of soil heat and water conductivity becomes one of the main problems in practical field use of the instruments. The purpose of this note is to point out that the dependence on soil conductivity can be eliminated by using two meters simultaneously