Water percolates through soil by moving downward through interconnected pores and spaces between soil particles. This process is driven by gravity and capillary action.
Here's a breakdown of the percolation process:
- Infiltration: Water first enters the soil through infiltration at the surface.
- Movement Through Soil Pores: Once inside the soil, water moves through the spaces between soil particles (sand, silt, and clay) and larger pores created by roots, worms, and other organisms. The size and interconnectedness of these pores determine the rate of percolation.
- Gravity and Capillary Action: Gravity pulls the water downwards. Capillary action, which is the ability of water to move in narrow spaces due to surface tension, also contributes to the water's movement through the soil.
- Reaching Groundwater: As the water percolates deeper, it eventually reaches the saturated zone, where all the pores are filled with water. This saturated zone is known as groundwater. The upper surface of the groundwater is called the water table.
In short, percolation is the continued downward movement of infiltrated water through the soil profile toward groundwater.
