sub-surface
Beneath the top
Sub-surface describes what lies beneath an outer layer or surface.
The term appears most often in scientific and technical contexts: sub-surface water, sub-surface geology, sub-surface damage.
Engineers examine sub-surface conditions before construction.
Astronomers study sub-surface oceans on distant moons.
Also spelled subsurface.
Made invisible deliberately
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
- underlyingExisting beneath the surface
- latentPresent but inactive
- unseenNot perceived visually
obscured · undetected · covered · beneath · below · deeper · internal · embedded
Horizontal layer of material
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- oreMetal-bearing rock
mineral · karst · mantle · tectonics · geothermal · magma · groundwater · permafrost
Enclosed underground route
- cavernLarge natural underground chamber
- mineOre excavation site
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- boringFailing to engage interest
shaft · trench · dig · burrow · grotto · adit · quarry · pit
Underwater detection by echoes
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- seismicRelating to ground tremors
- imagingProducing visual representations
- scanningSystematic visual examination
probe · sensor · survey · mapping · penetrating · sounding · ultrasound · tomography
concealed
Made invisible deliberately
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
- underlyingExisting beneath the surface
- latentPresent but inactive
unseen · obscured · undetected · covered · beneath · below · deeper · internal · embedded · submerged
stratum
Horizontal layer of material
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
ore · mineral · karst · mantle · tectonics · geothermal · magma · groundwater · permafrost · shale
tunnel
Enclosed underground route
boring · shaft · trench · dig · burrow · grotto · adit · quarry · pit · borehole
sonar
Underwater detection by echoes
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- seismicRelating to ground tremors
- imagingProducing visual representations
scanning · probe · sensor · survey · mapping · penetrating · sounding · ultrasound · tomography · remote sensing
sub-surfacesurface
Outermost boundary layer
above-ground · superficial · surface-level · aerial · topside