Zone of Aeration and Its Relationship to Ground Water Recharge

Water percolating into relatively dry sediments at Seabrook must wet each layer of the aeration zone approximately to field capacity before moisture drainage to the layer below can take place at a substantial rate. The depth to which a given rainfall or irrigation application, or both, penetrate depends largely upon the thickness and previous moisture content of the top layer of the aeration zone. The rate at which the water penetrates depends upon the amount of water and the nature of the sediments. If insufficient