Notes on the relation between the moisture‐equivalent and the specific retention of water‐bearing materials

The moisture‐equivalent and specific retention have been widely used as quasi‐physical constants to measure the power of a water‐bearing material or a soil to retain water against gravitative force. Comparatively little has been demonstrated, however, as to the relation of one to the other. This paper is a preliminary statement of the apparent relation between these two measures of retentive power and is based on a study of alluvial materials made in connection with an investigation by the United States Geological Survey into the ground‐water resources of the Mokelumne Area, central California.