The hydraulic conductivity of freezing saline soils

This paper presents the results of the authors' experimental research on the mechanisms and parameters of mass transfer in the frozen and the unfrozen zones of freezing saline soils. Values of the coefficient of hydraulic conductivity of saline soils in the frozen and unfrozen states have been estimated. The authors ascertained that the hydraulic conductivity of freezing soil decreases with increasing salt content in thawed part but increases with increasing salt content in frozen part. If there is a temperature gradient in the frozen sod the advective mechanism of salt transfer is not the only one in action.