Geology & Earth Sciences vocabulary · Water Cycle & Hydrology
Permeable
Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples
/ˈpɜːrmiəbəl/adjectiveCommon term
In geology & earth sciences, permeable means: Allowing water or other fluids to pass through easily. Sand, gravel and cracked limestone are permeable, while clay and shale let very little water through.
In Turkish: geçirimli, geçirgen
How it is used
Used in hydrogeology, engineering and petroleum geology. The opposite is impermeable and the noun is permeability. Permeable layers form aquifers, while impermeable layers can trap groundwater, oil and gas beneath them.
Example sentences
Rain soaks quickly into the permeable sandy soil.
The aquifer is a permeable sandstone between two layers of clay.
Common collocations
highly permeable
permeable rock
permeable layer
impermeable layer
Related terms
aquiferAn underground body of permeable rock or sediment that holds groundwater and lets it flow, so that it can supply wells and springs.
groundwaterWater held underground in the pores and cracks of soil, sediment and rock below the water table. It feeds wells and springs.
clayVery fine mineral particles, smaller than about 0.002 mm in soil science, and the soft, sticky material they form when wet. Clay holds water and nutrients well.
water tableThe upper surface of groundwater, below which soil and rock are fully saturated with water. Its depth rises and falls with rainfall and pumping.
