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Definition:
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The entry of a liquid such as water into a permeable solid such as snow or firn, and, more loosely, the percolation of the liquid through the void spaces of the solid. In general, two forces govern infiltration gravity and capillary tension. The latter allows the solid to draw in the liquid and is determined by adhesive molecular forces, which can be substantial in materials with very small pores. The rate of infiltration of a liquid into a permeable solid is determined by the porosity and liquid content of the solid and by its hydraulic conductivity.
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