Question

difference between percolation and infiltration rate

Answer 1

Infiltration: The process in which water is absorbed by soil of any area during a rainfall. Infiltration is a process which is also used to measure the speed with which water enters the soil in case of rain or when water is supplied to the ground through human made means.

Percolation: It is the descending motion of infiltered water through soil and rock layers. Infiltration occurs closer to the surface of the soil. Infiltration delivers water from the surface into the soil and plant rooting zone while Percolation moves it through the soil profile to replenish ground water supplies or become part of sub-surface run-off process. Thus, the Percolation process represents the flow of water from unsaturated zone to the saturated zone.

Answer 2

"Both infiltration and percolation are two geological processes which are related to the moisture movement in the soil.

Infiltration rate:

• Infiltration is termed as the "downward flow" of water molecules into the soil.
• The rate of infiltration is measured by measuring the "amount of water" absorbed per "hour".

Percolation:

• On the contrary, the percolation can be defined as a flow of water mainly through "porous or fractured" rock.
• It moves the water from "soil profile" to replenish "groundwater"."