Hydrogeology terminology — ability of a formation to transmit water The capability of a saturated soil or aquifer of full width and depth to transmit water across its thickness is termed:

Introduction / Context:
Groundwater hydraulics distinguishes between properties of the medium per unit thickness and properties of the entire saturated thickness. Correct terminology is essential for well design and yield prediction.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Saturated, laterally extensive aquifer.
• “Full width and depth” implies considering the whole saturated thickness.

Concept / Approach:

• Permeability (hydraulic conductivity, K) is a material property per unit thickness.
• Transmissibility (often transmissivity, T) = K * b, where b is saturated thickness; it represents the ability of the entire thickness to transmit water.
• Porosity is volumetric void fraction and does not directly measure ease of flow.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Interpret “full width and depth” → use property integrated over thickness.Recall T = K * b → measure of total capacity to transmit flow through the aquifer section.Therefore, the correct term is “Transmissibility”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Pumping-test analyses (Theis, Cooper-Jacob) use transmissivity directly to relate drawdown to discharge.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Permeability refers to unit thickness; porosity is not a flow parameter; “None” is inapplicable; specific yield is a storage parameter.

Common Pitfalls:
Using K and T interchangeably; forgetting to multiply by saturated thickness when estimating well fields.

Final Answer:
Transmissibility