Throughflow

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In Hydrology, throughflow is the movement of water horizontally beneath the land surface. It occurs once water has infiltrated the soil, the water moves downwards under gravity and because the soil becomes more compact and less permeable with increasing depth, water will begin to move sideways at speeds of between 0.005 to 0.3 m/h.It usually happens when the soil is completely saturated with water. This water then flows underground until it reaches a river, lake, or ocean. Throughflow rates are normally low. The lowest rates of flow occur in soils made of clay.

Throughflow should not be confused with throughfall, which is another hydrological term.