1.5 - Salt Water Incursion

Question 1

What is desalination?

Answer 1

The removal of excess salt and other minerals from water.

Question 2

How would an area with thin soil and sparse vegetation influence water availability, in comparison to an area with a forest on deep soils?

Answer 2

Thin soil and sparse vegetation leads to low interception and more surface run off, therefore it will reduce ground water storage. Whereas lots of vegetation and deep soils encourage infiltration.

Question 3

How does granite and sandstone influence water availability?

Answer 3

Granite is an impermeable bed rock in contrast to sandstone which is permeable. Sandstone also acts as an aquifer, as you can pump it for a supply of water.

Question 4

Area A has an average annual rainfall of 500mm and an average annual temperature of 25 degrees. Area B has an average annual rainfall of 1800mm and an average annual temperature of 12 degrees. How would these physical factors influence water availability in the two areas?

Answer 4

Area A: less annual rainfall therefore water inputs are low. The higher annual temperature leads to more evaporation.
Area B: higher annual rainfall input in comparison to the rate of evaporation.

Question 5

What does the Ghyben-Herzberg Ratio state?

Answer 5

For every foot of fresh water in an unconfined aquifer above sea level, there will be forty feet of fresh water in the aquifer below sea level.