Exam 5 (Running Water, Groundwater)

Question 1

A summary of the circulation of Earth’s water supply

Answer 1

The Hydrologic Cycle

Question 2

Processes involved in the hydrologic cycle (5)

Answer 2

Precipitation, Evaporation, Infiltration, Runoff, Transpiration

Question 3

Land area that contributes water to the stream is the ____

Answer 3

Drainage basin (aka watershed)

Question 4

The imaginary line separating one basin from another is called a ____.

Answer 4

Divide

Question 5

____ is the overland transport of stormwater in a shallow concentrated flow.

Answer 5

Sheetflow

Question 6

Term applying to a wide variety of processes that involve the downslope movement of rock, regolith, and/or soil under the force of gravity.

Answer 6

Mass wasting

Question 7

Important “triggers” for mass wasting events

Answer 7

Role of water, oversteepening of slopes, removal of vegetation, earthquakes, and geologic time.

Question 8

Maximum slope angle at which a material is stable.

Answer 8

Angle of Repose

Question 9

Modest amounts of _____ increase adhesion; saturation decreases friction

Answer 9

Fluid

Question 10

Fluid infiltrating soil and sediment may increase _____ _____ and promote movement.

Answer 10

Pore pressure

Question 11

Principal factors controlling the velocity of water in a channel:

Answer 11

Gradient and channel characteristics (size, shape, roughness)

Question 12

The volume of water moving past a given point in a certain amount of time.

Answer 12

Discarge

Question 13

The maximum volume of load that a river can carry at a specific point in its course

Answer 13

Capacity

Question 14

The measure of the maximum size of particles a stream can transport

Answer 14

Competence

Question 15

Deposition of sediments is controlled mostly by a decrease in _____.

Answer 15

Velocity

Question 16

Decrease in velocity also results in a decrease in _____ _____.

Answer 16

Stream competence

Question 17

Where a high-gradient (slope) stream leaves a narrow valley.

Answer 17

Alluvial fan

Question 18

Forms through the deposition of sediment when a stream enters an ocean or lake.

Answer 18

Delta

Question 19

Valley characteristic of upland areas with higher gradient and significant downcutting?

Answer 19

V-Shaped valley

Question 20

Valley characteristic of lowland areas with lower gradient and significant lateral erosion?

Answer 20

Wide valley.

Question 21

______ ______ is what widens the valleys and causes meandering stream patterns

Answer 21

Lateral Erosian

Question 22

How do meandering streams evolve?

Answer 22

Curves of the stream widen through repeated erosion/deposition

Question 23

Features of a meandering stream:

Answer 23

Cut bank, point bar, oxbow lake.

Question 24

Names for areas of deposition and erosion in a stream:

Answer 24

Deposition: Point bar
Erosion: Cut bank

Question 25

Two ways that terraces can form:

Answer 25

Change in base level or change in climate. (Leads to change in discharge)

Question 26

Water found in the pores of soil and sediment, plus narrow fractures in bedrock.

Answer 26

Groundwater

Question 27

Largest reservoir of fresh water that is readily available to humans.

Answer 27

Groundwater.

Question 28

Area above the water table, water cannot be pumped by wells.

Answer 28

Zone of aeration (AKA Vadose Zone)

Question 29

The upper limit of the zone of saturation

Answer 29

Water table

Question 30

Zone where all of the open spaces in sediment and rock are completely filled with water.

Answer 30

Zone of saturation (AKA Phreatic Zone)

Question 31

Interaction between groundwater and streams where water is gained from the inflow of groundwater through the streambed.

Answer 31

Gaining Stream

Question 32

Interaction between groundwater and stream where water is lost to the groundwater system by outflow through the streambed.

Answer 32

Losing stream

Question 33

An accumulation of groundwater that is above the water table in the unsaturated zone.

Answer 33

Perched Water Table

Question 34

A depression in the groundwater table or potentiometric surface that has the shape of an inverted cone and develops around a well from which water is being withdrawn.

Answer 34

Cone of depression

Question 35

A situation in which groundwater under pressure rises above the level of the aquifier.

Answer 35

Artesian Well

Question 36

Shape of water table is usually ____?

Answer 36

A subdued replica of the surface topography.

Question 37

Percentage of total volume of rock or sediment that consists of pore spaces?

Answer 37

Porosity

Question 38

The ability of a material to transmit a fluid

Answer 38

Permeability

Question 39

Permeable rock that transmits groundwater freely (such as sands or gravels).

Answer 39

Aquifier

Question 40

An impermeable layer that hinders or prevents water movement (such as clay).

Answer 40

Aquitard

Question 41

The water table slope, determined by dividing the vertical difference between the recharge and discharge points by the length of flow between these points.

Answer 41

Hydraulic Gradient

Question 42

The vertical difference between the recharge and discharge points.

Answer 42

Hydraulic head

Question 43

Groundwater is replenished in ______ ______.

Answer 43

Recharge areas

Question 44

Groundwater flows back to the surface in _____ _____.

Answer 44

Discharge areas

Question 45

The deeper the groundwater gets, the ____ the quality of water.

Answer 45

Lower; deeper groundwaters have been in contact with bedrock longer and picked up more dissolved solids.

Question 45

Natural outflows of groundwater that occur where the water table intersects Earth's surface.

Answer 45

Springs

Question 46

Intermittent hot springs that occur where underground chambers exist within hot igneous rock.

Answer 46

Geysers

Question 47

Landscapes that have been shaped mainly by groundwater's dissolving.

Answer 47

Karst Topography

Question 48

Karst rock types

Answer 48

Soluble: Limestone

Question 49

The collapse of a cavern over a large area.

Answer 49

Solution valley

Question 50

Stream that disappears underground at a distinct sink point.

Answer 50

Sinking stream

Question 51

Calcite deposited as dripping water evaporates.

Answer 51

Dripstone

Question 52

How does an oxbow lake form?

Answer 52

When a curve in a meandering stream is bypassed.

Question 53

How do stream terraces form?

Answer 53

Streams carve downward into their floodplains, leaving discontinuous remnants of older floodplain surfaces as step-like benches along the sides of the valley.

Question 54

Primary factor responsible for determining whether erosion or deposition is occurring along any one segment of a typical stream system.

Answer 54

Stream gradient (slope)

Question 55

What is most groundwater used for and briefly describe one viable alternative to current usage rates.

Answer 55

Wells; one alternative is harvested rainwater.

Question 56

Why does the water table take the shape of a subdued replica of the surface topography?

Answer 56

Permeable soil depositions dictate the general shape of a piece of land.