Epiphreatic zone

Cross section showing the water table varying with surface topography as well as a perched water table
Cross-section of a hillslope depicting the vadose zone, capillary fringe, water table, and phreatic or saturated zone (Source: United States Geological Survey)

In a cave system, the epiphreatic zone or floodwater zone is the zone between the vadose (unsaturated) zone above and phreatic (saturated) zone below. It is regularly flooded and has a significant porosity. It has a great potential for cave formation.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Prelovšek, Mitja (2009). Present-Day Speleogenetic Processes, Factors and Features in the Epiphreatic Zone: Dissertation (PDF). University of Nova Gorica. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Aquifer Anatomy | EARTH 111: Water: Science and Society". www.e-education.psu.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  3. ^ "Infiltration | hydrologic cycle | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  4. ^ "saturated zone". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  5. ^ "USGS Unsaturated Zone Flow Project". wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.