claypan
Impermeable soil layer
A claypan is a shallow depression in the ground with a bottom of dense, compite clay that holds water after rain.
The impermeable clay prevents drainage, creating temporary pools in arid regions.
In soil science, claypan also refers to a hardened clay layer beneath the topsoil that restricts root growth and water movement: The claypan made the land useless for farming.
Impenetrable subsurface stratum
- impermeableCannot be penetrated
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- playaDried lakebed in desert
salt flat · drainage · water table · depression · basin · alluvial · pediment · regolith
Devoid of water
- desertTo leave behind completely
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- barrenUnable to produce
- scorchingExtremely hot, burning
parched · sunbaked · dusty · evaporation · waterhole · billabong · station · mustering
Cannot be penetrated
- runoffExcess water drainage
- pondingWater accumulating in place
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
drainage · infiltration · water retention · flooding · catchment · surface water · precipitation · dry season
Range of life forms
- floraPlants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- waterbirdsBirds inhabiting aquatic environments
breeding ground · migration · shorebirds · brine shrimp · algae · invertebrates · endemic species · aquatic plants
hardpan
Impenetrable subsurface stratum
- impermeableCannot be penetrated
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
playa · salt flat · drainage · water table · depression · basin · alluvial · pediment · regolith · subsoil
arid
Devoid of water
scorching · parched · sunbaked · dusty · evaporation · waterhole · billabong · station · mustering · stockman
impermeable
Cannot be penetrated
- runoffExcess water drainage
- pondingWater accumulating in place
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
ephemeral · drainage · infiltration · water retention · flooding · catchment · surface water · precipitation · dry season · wet season
biodiversity
Range of life forms
waterbirds · breeding ground · migration · shorebirds · brine shrimp · algae · invertebrates · endemic species · aquatic plants · nesting
- Outbackoutback, station, red sand, cattle station, dust storm
- Outback Australiabillabong, billabongs, waterhole, waterholes, artesian water
- Soilsoil, topsoil, subsoil, dirt, loam
- drylands
- salt flatssalt flats, salt flat, playas, dry lake bed, salt deposits
- Temporary Watersephemeral stream, wadi, arroyo, dry riverbed, dry wash
claypansandy soil
Coarse, granular earth
aquifer · sandy loam · karst · gravel bed · loamy soil
claypanfertile soil
Nutrient-rich growing medium
loose soil · topsoil · humus · loam · arable land