9. Soil And Water Resources Flashcards

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1
Q

soil

A

layer of sediment that has been modified by organisms and water; the region of the lithosphere into which plant roots extend

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2
Q

pedogenesis

A

the process of soil formation

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3
Q

bedrock

A

rock that is structurally part of and connected to earth’s crust

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4
Q

regolith

A

any loose, fragmented earth material that covers bedrock

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5
Q

soil horizon

A

horizontal zone within the soil identified by its chemical and physical properties

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6
Q

eluviation

A

(exit) process by which rainwater carries soil particles downward

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7
Q

leaching

A

process by which rainwater carries dissolved nutrients downward

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8
Q

loam

A

soil that consists of approximately 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay and has a high organic content

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9
Q

humus

A

organic material that makes up the topmost layers of soil (O and A horizons)

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10
Q

soil taxonomy

A

a soil classification system that groups soils into 12 categories, or orders

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11
Q

drought

A

prolonged period of water shortage

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12
Q

groundwater

A

water found beneath earth’s surface in sediments and rocks

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13
Q

percolation

A

process by which rainwater moves through the soil through narrow meandering channels

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14
Q

porosity

A

available air space within sediments or rocks

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15
Q

permeability

A

ease with which water can flow through soil, sediments, or rocks

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16
Q

aquifer

A

a sediment or rock layer with pores that contain water

17
Q

aquiclude

A

sediment or rock layer that lacks pores and cannot contain water

18
Q

zone of aeration

A

layer of the ground not permanently saturated with water

19
Q

water table

A

top surface of an aquifer’s zone of saturation

20
Q

zone of saturation

A

layer of the ground that is usually saturated with water

21
Q

capillary fringe

A

the region of transition between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation

22
Q

infiltration

A

(into) process by which water seeps into the ground through the force of gravity

23
Q

groundwater recharge

A

movement of water into an aquifer

24
Q

groundwater discharge

A

movement of water out of an aquifer

25
Q

perched water table

A

localized water table that lies above the regional water table

26
Q

spring

A

naturally occurring discharge of groundwater that is pushed to the ground surface by hydraulic pressure

27
Q

potentiometric surface

A

the eleviation to which hydraulic pressure will push water in pipes or wells

28
Q

well

A

hole dug or drilled by people to gain access to groundwater

29
Q

artesian well

A

a well that has been drilled through an aquiclude into a confined aquifer below and may gush water

30
Q

groundwater overdraft

A

withdrawal of water from an aquifer faster than the aquifer is recharged at the site of a well

31
Q

cone of depression

A

the cone-shaped lowering of the water table resulting from groundwater overdraft

32
Q

saltwater intrusion

A

contamination of a well by salt water as a result of groundwater overdraft

33
Q

groundwater mining

A

process of extracting groundwater where there is little to no groundwater recharge

34
Q

fossil groundwater

A

water that entered an aquifer long ago and is no longer being replenished

35
Q

contaminant plume

A

cloud of pollution that migrates through an aquifer away from its source

36
Q

groundwater remediation

A

process of cleaning a contaminated aquifer

37
Q

water footprint

A

amount of water required to produce a specific item, food, or service

38
Q

virtual water

A

unseen water required to produce a manufactured item or food