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Physical Geology > Exam 5 (Running Water, Groundwater) > Flashcards

Exam 5 (Running Water, Groundwater) Flashcards

1
Q

A summary of the circulation of Earth’s water supply

A

The Hydrologic Cycle

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2
Q

Processes involved in the hydrologic cycle (5)

A

Precipitation, Evaporation, Infiltration, Runoff, Transpiration

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3
Q

Land area that contributes water to the stream is the ____

A

Drainage basin (aka watershed)

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4
Q

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

A

Divide

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5
Q

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

A

Sheetflow

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6
Q

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

A

Mass wasting

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7
Q

Important “triggers” for mass wasting events

A

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

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8
Q

Maximum slope angle at which a material is stable.

A

Angle of Repose

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9
Q

Modest amounts of _____ increase adhesion; saturation decreases friction

A

Fluid

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10
Q

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

A

Pore pressure

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11
Q

Principal factors controlling the velocity of water in a channel:

A

Gradient and channel characteristics (size, shape, roughness)

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12
Q

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

A

Discarge

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13
Q

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

A

Capacity

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14
Q

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

A

Competence

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15
Q

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

A

Velocity

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16
Q

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

A

Stream competence

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17
Q

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

A

Alluvial fan

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18
Q

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

A

Delta

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19
Q

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

A

V-Shaped valley

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20
Q

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

A

Wide valley.

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21
Q

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

A

Lateral Erosian

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22
Q

How do meandering streams evolve?

A

Curves of the stream widen through repeated erosion/deposition

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23
Q

Features of a meandering stream:

A

Cut bank, point bar, oxbow lake.

24
Q

Names for areas of deposition and erosion in a stream:

A

Deposition: Point bar
Erosion: Cut bank

25
Q

Two ways that terraces can form:

A

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

26
Q

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

A

Groundwater

27
Q

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

A

Groundwater.

28
Q

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

A

Zone of aeration (AKA Vadose Zone)

29
Q

The upper limit of the zone of saturation

A

Water table

30
Q

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

A

Zone of saturation (AKA Phreatic Zone)

31
Q

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

A

Gaining Stream

32
Q

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

A

Losing stream

33
Q

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

A

Perched Water Table

34
Q

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.

A

Cone of depression

35
Q

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

A

Artesian Well

36
Q

Shape of water table is usually ____?

A

A subdued replica of the surface topography.

37
Q

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

A

Porosity

38
Q

The ability of a material to transmit a fluid

A

Permeability

39
Q

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

A

Aquifier

40
Q

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

A

Aquitard

41
Q

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

A

Hydraulic Gradient

42
Q

The vertical difference between the recharge and discharge points.

A

Hydraulic head

43
Q

Groundwater is replenished in ______ ______.

A

Recharge areas

44
Q

Groundwater flows back to the surface in _____ _____.

A

Discharge areas

45
Q

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

A

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

45
Q

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

A

Springs

46
Q

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

A

Geysers

47
Q

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

A

Karst Topography

48
Q

Karst rock types

A

Soluble: Limestone

49
Q

The collapse of a cavern over a large area.

A

Solution valley

50
Q

Stream that disappears underground at a distinct sink point.

A

Sinking stream

51
Q

Calcite deposited as dripping water evaporates.

A

Dripstone

52
Q

How does an oxbow lake form?

A

When a curve in a meandering stream is bypassed.

53
Q

How do stream terraces form?

A

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

54
Q

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

A

Stream gradient (slope)

55
Q

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

A

Wells; one alternative is harvested rainwater.

56
Q

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

A

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

Physical Geology (2 decks)

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