Quantification of uncertainties in soil-water characteristic curve associated with fitting parameters

Abstract Soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) is commonly expressed using best fit equations with several fitting parameters. These fitting parameters are determined by best fitting experimental data with the best fit equations. Residual errors always exist after the regression procedure for the determination of these fitting parameters. Statistical theory suggests that uncertainties of the determined SWCC can be estimated from the variance of these fitting parameters and the residual errors. In this paper, equations for the confidence limits of the best fitted SWCC are developed to quantify the uncertainties in the determined SWCC associated with the fitting parameters. Applications of the confidence limits in evaluating the performance of best fit equations and suggestion for experimental measurements are presented in this paper.

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