I’m looking for a word that means (ac)cumulation over time. The time aspect is important. I looked around National Geographic articles on ice sheet formation hoping that I would stumble on a suitable word, but didn’t.
I'm trying to think of a more succint publication title. My current (and somewhat wordy) version is
"A Time-series Accumulation Approach to Soil Moisture Retrieval".
I was looking for an adjective to replace the "time-series accumulation" part.
Best Answer
How about accretion?
Merriam Webster uses a summary definition of:
: a gradual process in which layers of a material are formed as small amounts are added over time
: something that has grown or accumulated slowly : a product or result of gradual growth
Definition 1: the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup: as,
1a : increase by external addition or accumulation (as by adhesion of external parts or particles)
1b : the increase of land by the action of natural forces
You might also consider a word related to the verb accrue, which Merriam Webster defines in summary as:
: to increase in value or amount gradually as time passes : to grow or build up slowly
Definition 2a: to come about as a natural growth, increase, or advantage
Definition 3: to accumulate or be added periodically
I tend to associate soils more with accretion than accrual, but there are a couple suggestions.