The lowest part of the zone of aeration, marked by the rising of water from the water table due to the attraction of the water molecules to mineral surfaces and other molecules, and to pressure from the zone of saturation below.
a zone in the soil just above the watertable that remains saturated or almost saturated. List of Glossary Terms
The transition zone between the saturated and the unsaturated zone where the pore spaces in soil and/or rock layers are filled with water. However, the water will not flow in sufficient quantities to support a well.
the zone of a porous medium above the water table within which the porous medium is saturated by water under pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure.
a zone in the soil just above the water table that remains saturated or almost saturated, because the water is drawn up against the force of gravity due to waters adhesive and cohesive forces (capillary action). DIAGRAM
The zone immediately above the water table, where rocks and soil are saturated, but at pressure that is less than atmospheric. Water is held in this zone by capillary forces and cannot be removed by a well.
Saturated layer at the top of the groundwater zone consisting of water held by capillary tension above the level that would represent the hydrostatic surface influenced by gravity alone.
The porous material just above the water table which may hold water by capillarity (a property of surface tension that draws water upwards) in the smaller void spaces.
The unsaturated zone immediately above the water table but containing water in direct contact with the water table. Also known as Zone of Aeration.
The zone just above the water-table that remains practically saturated with water.
The zone above the water table and below the boundary of saturation where the soil is saturated but at pressures less than atmospheric (i.e., under tension). A new equivalent term gaining acceptance is tension saturated zone.
The capillary fringe is the subsurface layer in which groundwater seeps up from a water table by capillary action to fill pores. Pores at the base of the capillary fringe are filled with water due to tension saturation. This saturated portion of the capillary fringe is less than total capillary rise because of the presence of a mix in pore size.