phreatic zone
Earth science
Quick Summary
The phreatic zone, also known as the zone of saturation, is the area beneath the Earth's surface where all the pore spaces in the soil and rock are completely filled with water. This is where groundwater is found. The upper boundary of this zone is called the water table. Above the phreatic zone is the vadose zone, or zone of aeration, where pore spaces contain both air and water. The water table's level can change due to factors like rainfall, vegetation, and water withdrawal from wells.1234
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