Definition of vadose in English:
vadose
adjective ˈveɪdəʊsˈveɪdoʊs
Geology Relating to or denoting underground water above the water table.
Compare with phreatic
Example sentencesExamples
- After a few metres, the floor turns to rock, and the passage exhibits signs of vadose entrenchment.
- Follow this through a duck, into a drier section, and then immediately through a further low wet section that emerges into a very fine vadose canyon.
- The way on was down some cascades leading to a small, low, vadose rift passage floored with boulders.
- This soon rejoins the main passage, and before long the floor breaks through the porcellaneous band, and the passage develops into a somewhat more pleasant vadose trench.
- The unit contains abundant evidence of subaerial exposure, including caliche crusts, desiccation cracks and vadose cements.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Latin vadosus, from vadum 'shallow expanse of water'.