circuit analogies programming vs mathematical modelling for soil temperature distribution

temperature profile determination in soils under adverse conditions of variable heat capacity and conductivity is a rather hard task. the heat capacity and conductivity are moisture dependent and both vary with the soil density. moisture movement on the other hand is temperature dependent and so the two interact. no single mathematical formulae as yet exists for anticipating the temperature distribution in such a system as soil. the mathematical modelling however was possible by slicing the soil into slabs and then implementing the finite difference analytical method. the results showed some discrep ancies due to the nature of the method. the simulation was also made by pcap (princeton circuit analogies programming). this method also had its limitations but the work was much easier to perform and a some how better results obtained.