capillary fringe
Quick Summary
The capillary fringe is a region within the vadose zone, located just above the water table. This zone contains water that remains in the soil after gravitational water has drained out. This remaining water is held in place by capillary action, forming a film around soil grains.12
The height of the capillary fringe can vary significantly depending on the grain size of the sediments. In coarser materials, it may be thin and relatively flat, while in finer-grained soils, it can be higher and have a more irregular upper surface. The vadose zone, which encompasses the capillary fringe, can range from absent to hundreds of feet thick, influenced by environmental factors and the type of earth material present.1
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