droogvallen

Droogvallen is a Dutch term that describes the process by which moisture in soil, peat, or standing water declines to a level that is considered dry. In scientific and environmental contexts it denotes the transition from a moist to a drier state as evaporation, plant transpiration, and drainage exceed inputs from rainfall, irrigation, or groundwater. In soils, droogvallen can lead to crust formation, reduced permeability, and shrinkage, and in peatlands it can accelerate the oxidation of organic matter. In aquatic systems, drying can reduce surface area, concentrate pollutants, and alter habitats for aquatic life.

Monitoring of droogvallen involves soil moisture sensors, tensiometers, groundwater level measurements, and remote sensing to detect changes in water content and surface area. The term is used mainly in Dutch-language literature on hydrology, agriculture, and ecology, and can be used figuratively to describe a landscape drying after a wet period.

Etymology: droogvallen is formed from droog (dry) and vallen (to fall). The concept aligns with related Dutch terms such as uitdrogen (to dry out) and droogte (drought).