capillary zone

views updated May 14 2018

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

views updated May 08 2018

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.

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