Perched Groundwater
Perched Groundwater – In geology, “perched groundwater” refers to unconfined groundwater which separates from an underlying body of groundwater by an unsaturated zone or vadose zone.
Perched Groundwater – In geology, “perched groundwater” refers to unconfined groundwater which separates from an underlying body of groundwater by an unsaturated zone or vadose zone.

Surface-Wave Magnitude “Surface-Wave Magnitude” is the magnitude of an earthquake that scientists estimate using measurements of the amplitude of surface waves.

Tsunami Tsunami: In the seismology branch of geology, a tsunami is an oceanic wave (gravitational) that is produced by seismic activity on the ocean floor. Common triggers of tsunamis are large-scale short duration earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other submarine earth movements such as subsidence and slope failure.

Focus (Hypocenter) Focus (Hypocenter): In the seismology branch of geology, a focus, or hypocenter, refers to the specific place where an earthquake rupture originates. The focus, or hypocenter, underlies the epicenter when an earthquake occurs at a dip-slip fault, strike-slip fault, oblique-slip fault, or listric fault. In the event of an earthquake, geologists, and seismologists…

Maximum Soil Screening Levels (MSLs) Maximum Soil Screening Levels (MSLs): MSLs are a list of risk-based hydrocarbon concentrations for soil pollution evaluations, that is developed by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. These screening levels are based on the Leaking Underground Fuel Tanks (LUFT) Manual, for cleaning up soil contamination from leaking USTs. However, MSLs…

Retaining Wall Retaining Wall: A structure that provides the support needed to hold (in place) a mass of earth, preventing it from moving downhill. Retaining walls are relatively rigid structures comprising footings and a drainage system, in order to retain the soils between two different elevations. Updated May 25, 2020. Construction & Design A lot…

Dilatancy “Dilatancy” is the increase in the bulk volume of a soil substance during deformation. Dilatancy is caused by the change from a close-pack structure to an open-pack structure.