That part of the cave environment that lies or once lay above the water table. Also refers to the erosional processes that act in that zone.

Cave passage formed by a stream with air above. Opposite of phreatic.

Formed above water by erosion from a stream running in the bottom. Vadose passages are gravity controlled and always aim downhill (or uphill, if you face the other way ...). Most vadose passages are not rounded but may meander significantly