What is the term for water flowing through the soil in natural pipes?

The term that describes water flowing through the soil in natural pipes is throughflow. Throughflow occurs when water infiltrates the soil and moves laterally, often traveling through soil macropores or other natural conduits. This process is significant in the hydrological cycle as it helps transport water from the soil into water bodies or to deeper groundwater systems, contributing to streamflow and influencing the moisture levels in the soil.

Understanding throughflow is important in the context of soil moisture dynamics and can help explain patterns of water movement in different landscapes. It also has implications for agriculture, drainage management, and understanding flood risks. Other processes like drainage, leaching, and capillary action have different definitions that do not specifically refer to the movement of water through natural pipes within the soil.