Parameter estimation for an infiltration problem (Q679263)

The Burgers equation is considered as a mathematical model for non-hysteretic infiltration in nonswelling soil under appropriate physical conditions. The mathematical model for infiltration is as follows \[ \partial v/\partial t=\delta(\partial^2v/\partial z^2)- 2a(v+b)\partial v/\partial z \] with some initial and boundary conditions. The parameters \(\delta\), \(a\) and \(b\) are known. The aim of this paper is to estimate the soil water distribution at the fixed time in the past and the precipitation-evaporation history from the observations of volumetric water at the present time. For solving this inverse problem the modal approximation scheme is introduced. The function space parameter estimation convergence property of this scheme is proved by using the change of the nonlinear problem into a linear one by an appropriate change of variables. Numerical simulations are performed.