What are two zones associated with ground water?

• A. Zone of Water Table, Zone of Capillary Rise
• B. Zone of Saturation, Zone of Infiltration
• C. Zone of Aeration (Vadose) [unsaturated], Zone of Water Table
• D. Zone of Aeration (Vadose) [unsaturated], Zone of Saturation

Answer: (D)

Groundwater resides in the portion of the subsurface that is fully saturated with water—the zone of saturation. Above this is the vadose or unsaturated zone, where the pores contain air plus some water. The water table marks the upper boundary of the saturated zone. So the two zones associated with groundwater are the unsaturated vadose zone and the saturated zone. Other terms like the water table describe the boundary, while capillary rise and infiltration describe processes within those zones rather than distinct groundwater zones.