Freshwater Flashcards
1
Q
What is porosity?
A
How much space is in a rock for water or air to fill.
2
Q
What are some factors that affect porosity and permeability?
A
- Texture/shape of grains
- Sorting
- Density
3
Q
What is permeability?
A
How easily water can move in-between spaces.
4
Q
What are some factors that affect porosity and permeability?
A
- Texture/shape of grains
- Sorting
- Density
5
Q
What increases porosity?
A
- Rounded sediments
- Well sorted
- Loosely packed
6
Q
What decreases porosity?
A
- Angular sediments
- Poorly sorted
- Tightly packed
7
Q
What increases permeability?
A
- Large particles
- Connectedness
- Well sorted
8
Q
What decreases permeability?
A
- Small particles
- Low connectedness
- Poorly sorted
9
Q
True or false: it is possible to be porous and impermiable.
A
T R U E
10
Q
What is an aquifer?
A
A unit of permeable and porous rock that contains water which we pump from
11
Q
What makes a good aquifer?
A
- Balance of porosity and permeability
- Sandstone
- Gravel
- Fractured rocks
12
Q
What makes a bad aquifer?
A
- Impermeable rock/sediments
- CLAY
13
Q
What are the characteristics of confined aquifers?
A
- Saturated rock
- Impermeable layers
- Adds pressure and allows water to rise
14
Q
What are the characteristics of unconfined aquifers?
A
- Open to the surface
- Rivers show the top upper limit
- MOST CONTAMINATED
15
Q
Why are unconfined aquifers more contaminated?
A
- Rain brings pollution into the aquifer which causes it to be more contaminated
- Garbage, human waste, pollution
