capillary zone(capillary fringe) The zone immediately above the water-table, into which water may be drawn upwards as a consequence of capillary action. A typical height for the capillary fringe in clay with a pore radius of 0.0005 mm might be 3 m, compared with less than 10 cm in a fine sand with a pore radius of 0.02 mm.

capillary zone (capillary fringe) The zone immediately above the water table, into which water may be drawn upward as a consequence of capillary action. A typical height for the capillary fringe in clay with a pore radius of 0.0005 mm might be 3 m, compared with less than 10 cm in a fine sand with a pore radius of 0.02 mm.