AbstractThe subject of this paper is the nonlinear analysis of heat and moisture transfer in partly saturated soil. In particular, an extension of the previous work of the author to two‐dimensional applications is presented. Problems of greater complexity and engineering significance can hence be solved. The theoretical basis of the problem is first outlined before the two‐dimensional formulation of the numerical solution is given. The finite element method is employed to give the spatial distributions of the variables, with a finite difference scheme being used to predict the temporal variations. The method allows the nonlinear nature of the soil parameters to be modelled, predictions being given of the coupled transient simultaneous transfer of heat and volumetric moisture content. The two‐dimensional nature of the work is illustrated for the case of surface evaporative soil moisture losses from sloping ground. Subsoil conditions of a uniform deposit of loam are considered with values of representative material parameters assumed after a literature search. The coupled nature of heat and mass transfer is illustrated by means of an analysis of the moisture migration patterns that occur. Two‐dimensional moisture flow, out of and into the soil, is shown to tak