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effective porosity
effective porosity
1. The proportion of the total pore space in a rock which is capable of releasing its contained water. Clay, for example, may have a total porosity of 50 per cent or more, but little if any of the water contained in these pores may be released, because of the retentive forces (e.g. surface tension) that hold it within the rock. 2. The proportion of the pore space through which groundwater flow occurs. For example, in fractured rocks the majority of flow occurs in the fractures, and intergranular pore water may be almost static. In porous rocks some pores may have only one connection with the general pore space (‘blind’ pores) and so contain only static water. |
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "effective porosity." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "effective porosity." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-effectiveporosity.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "effective porosity." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-effectiveporosity.html |
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effective porosity
effective porosity
1. That proportion of the total pore space in a rock which is capable of releasing its contained water. Clay, for example, may have a total porosity of 50% or more, but little if any of the water contained in these pores may be released, because of the retentive forces (e.g. surface tension) that hold it within the rock. 2. The proportion of the pore space through which groundwater flow occurs. For example, in fractured rocks the majority of flow occurs in the fractures, and intergranular pore water may be almost static. In porous rocks, some pores may have only one connection with the general pore space (‘blind’ pores) and so contain only static water. |
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "effective porosity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "effective porosity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-effectiveporosity.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "effective porosity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-effectiveporosity.html |
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