Groundwater Flashcards
represents the largest reservoir of freshwater that is readily available to humans
Gorundwater
near surface zone that wets the surface of grains and organic material making up the soil
Zone of soil moisture/soil zone
zone where water clings toot tightly to the soil, sediment, and rock
Unsaturated zone
zone where all of the open spaces in sediment and rock are completely filled with water
Saturation zone
upper limit of the zone of saturation
water table
shape replicates the surface and changes depending on rainwater supply
Water table
percentage of the total volume of rock or sediment that consists of pore spaces that can store groundwater
Porosity
ability of a material to transmit fluid along connected and large pores
Permeability
impermeable layers that hinder or prevent water movement (clay)
Aquitard
permeable rock strata or sediments that transmit groundwater freely (sand and gravel)
Aquifer
downward movement due to pull of gravity
Unsaturated zone
moves downward, sideway, upward due to the pressure and pull of gravity
Saturated zone
energy from elevation and pressure which causes water to flow
Hydraulic head
groundwater flows from ___ hydraulic head to ___ hydraulic head
higher to lower
water enters the ground via downward flow of direction
Recharge area
water flows back up the surface
Discharge area
groundwater flow factors
- complex, crooked network pathway
- friction with surrounding rocks
- water table slope
- material permeability
natural outlets from which groundwater flows
Spring
holes that people dig or drill
Well
groundwater flow when water table intersects the ground surface
spring
formed by:
1. circulating groundwater at higher depths
2. heated water rise to surface
Hot spring
ejects water with great force at various intervals that may release steam
Geyser
hole bored into the zone of saturation where groundwater moves to the surface
Well
depression in the water table due to continuous well pumping
Drawdown
penetrates confined aquifers in which water is under enough pressure to rise on its own above the surface of the aquifer
Artesian well
formed due to groundwater erosion
Caverns
formed due to groundwater dissolution
Karst topography
created at or below the water table in the zone of saturation
Cavern
calcium carbonate left by endless dripping of water of caverns above the water table in the unsaturated zone
Travertine
hanging from the ceiling of the cavern formed where water seeps through cracks above
Stalactites
develops on the floor of a cavern reaching to the ceiling
Stalagmites
irregular depressions common in karst areas
sinkhole
isolated steep sided hills that rise abruptly from the ground
tower karst
