ausspült

Ausspült is the German verb ausspülen, meaning to flush out, wash away, or leach. In practice it describes the removal of material by flowing water. The form ausspült appears in the present tense, while the passive or perfect forms are typically ausspült or ausgespült. The term is common in scientific and technical contexts, where it denotes the action of water removing soluble components or fine particles from a system.

In hydrology and soil science, ausspülen refers to leaching: infiltrating water dissolves and transports soluble minerals, nutrients, or salts from soil or sediment. This can alter soil fertility, change groundwater composition, and contribute to processes such as salinization or profile development.

In geology and sedimentology, ausspülen describes the erosion and transport of material by running water. It can remove fine fractions, rework deposits, and modify sedimentary layers. In karst regions, acidic water can ausspülen rock, enlarging voids and forming cavities over long timescales.

In archaeology and paleogeography, ausspülen is used to describe the reworking or flushing out of sediments by fluvial action, which can affect the interpretation of stratigraphic sequences and dating.

See also: leaching, erosion, karst, sedimentology, groundwater.