Contact/Slope Change Salinity

Contact salinity and slope change salinity are grouped together because they cannot be differentiated on aerial photographs and because the same methods are used to control both types.
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Contact salinity
Contact type of saline seep has water in its recharge areas which percolate down through the soil profile beyond the root zone. The groundwater moves to a lower position in the landscape and here through capillary rise, reaches the surface, resulting in a saline seep. Contact salinity has where a permeable water-bearing surface layer thinning out above a less permeable (e.g. fine textured) layer. This forces the groundwater flow closer to the surface.

Slope change salinity
Slope change salinity occurs where the slope decreases. This reduced slope slows the groundwater and builds up the water table. This type of seep to expands in the upslope direction.

Page developed by Jan Kwiatkowski.

Other Documents in the Series

Salinity Classification, Mapping and Management in Alberta
Artesian Salinity
Contact/Slope Change Salinity - Current Document
Coulee Bottom Salinity
Depression Bottom Salinity
Outcrop Salinity
Slough Ring Salinity
Irrigation Canal Seepage Salinity
Natural/Irrigation Salinity

For more information about the content of this document, contact Karen Raven.
This document is maintained by Laura Thygesen.
This information published to the web on February 12, 2004.
Last Reviewed/Revised on December 4, 2017.