groundwater level
1
4.1
- noun
- /ˈɡraʊndˌwɔːtər ˈlɛvəl/
- Specialized
:
nivel freático
- The ongoing drought has caused the groundwater level in the region to fall significantly.
- lower the groundwater level
- groundwater level and storage
- high groundwater level
Examples
-
The delicate finds were preserved because of the site's high groundwater level.
Academic text (2008) -
Governments also need to step up the monitoring and surveillance of river flows, groundwater levels, and watershed health.
Academic text (2005) -
The field site also included equipment to measure groundwater levels and water pressure.
Academic text (2002) -
The loss, he adds, has caused groundwater levels within the park to drop 2-4 feet in some places over many years.
Academic text (1994) -
If recharge exceeds discharge for some period, groundwater levels and storage will increase.
Academic text (2006) -
In wet conditions, higher groundwater levels increase the saturated source area, which can increase storm runoff.
Academic text (2010) -
Overexploitation of groundwater in such areas as northwestern India and north China results in falling groundwater levels.
Academic text (2000) -
The health of the riparian system is dependent on the groundwater level and hydraulic gradient near the stream.
Academic text (2006) -
Conversely, groundwater levels and storage will decline during periods when discharge exceeds recharge.
Academic text (2006) -
Individual landowners have exploited the privilege, and groundwater levels have declined significantly while pumping costs have escalated.
Academic text (1996)
Synonyms
10
3.9
The level underground where the soil or rock are full of water
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the level at which groundwater is present' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'groundwater' (subsurface water) with 'level' (height or position). This noun+noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Groundwater level comes from a simple picture: water gathers under the soil, so the words ground and water show it is water beneath the earth, and level shows how high that water reaches. So the name means the height where the ground is 'full of water', which is why we use it to talk about how much water is under the ground.