infiltraatioprosessi

Infiltraatioprosessi is a Finnish term that translates into English as "infiltration process." It refers to the movement of a fluid, usually water, from the surface into a porous medium. The concept is applied in a variety of scientific, environmental, and engineering disciplines, including hydrology, soil science, civil engineering, ecology, and geosciences. In a typical infiltration process, rainfall or irrigation water first contacts the soil surface and may spread across it. When the ground is saturated, excess water percolates through the soil pores and enters the unsaturated zone, eventually reaching the water table or aquifer. The velocity of infiltration depends on factors such as soil texture, structure, organic matter content, compaction, and the presence of crusts or impermeable layers.

In the field of hydraulics, infiltration is modelled to determine runoff generation and water balance. Tools such as the Green–Ampt equation, Horton’s infiltration model, and saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements are commonly used to quantify infiltration rates. In geomorphology, infiltration processes influence streamflow, headwater formation, and the development of drainage networks. Ecologically, infiltration plays a critical role in nutrient transport, sediment deposition, and the sustenance of groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

Beyond natural settings, the term "infiltraatioprosessi" is sometimes used in metaphorical contexts, such as the infiltration of pollutants or pathogens into a population or infrastructure. In all contexts the process is fundamentally about the movement of a substance through a porous or semi‑impermeable medium, governed by pressure gradients and diffusivity.