Groundwater Flashcards
Caused by the heat from the Sun
Evaporation
Steps of the Hydrologic Cycle
Evaporation
Air Circulation
Precipitation
Groundwater Flow & Surface Runoff
Pull of Earth’s gravity
Precipitation
Importance of Groundwater
- ) Drinking water
- ) Irrigation for crops
- ) Industrial use
What % of the US population uses groundwater as their water supply
50%
Most groundwater is used for:
Farming
Groundwater flows very slowly through tiny ____ in rocks or soil
Pores
Does groundwater flow in underground rivers?
NO
Rain soaks into the ground
Recharge
Pulls recharge water down into the ground
Gravity
Pushes discharge water up to the surface
Pressure
Groundwater comes out on the surface
Discharge
Controls on Groundwater Flow
Porosity
Permeability
How much pore space is present?
Porosity
How well are the pores connected?
Permeability
No holes =
No water
No porosity
No permeability =
BAD
High permeability =
GOOD
Any rock or sediment that can give us groundwater when pumped
Aquifer
Aquifer has:
High porosity
High permeability
Rocks that may store groundwater but can’t give it to us
Aquiclude
Aquiclude has
Low permeability
High —> low porosity
Where groundwater exits from a hillside it forms a ____
Seep or wet zone
If an aquafer hits an open fracture or bedding plane, water will gush out as a
Spring
