Groundwater

Question 1

Darcy’s Law

Answer 1

Equation; describes volume of water that depends on permeability and hydraulic gradient.

Question 2

Porosity

Answer 2

Amount or % of rock that has voids (open spaces) AND measures how much fluid it can hold.

Question 3

Permeability

Answer 3

Capacity of rock that flows through pores and fractures; Measures EASE of FLOW and degree of interconnection.

Question 3

Vadose Zone

Answer 3

unsaturated zone between land surface and above water table; capillary fringe (which stores plants with moisture and filter out contamination)

Question 3

Perched Water Table

Answer 3

top of groundwater body AND beneath it lies the Vadose/unsaturated zone (on SHALE layer)

Question 3

Aquifer

Answer 3

saturated rock that transmit water easily (has high porosity and permeability)
EX:) sand, gravel, fractured crystalline rocks

Question 4

Aquitard

Answer 4

rock that DOES NOT transmit water easily and slows down the water motion (lower permeability; EX: shale and CLAY)

ps. clay has high porosity but low permeability (water does not flow easily and its texture acts as a barrier against it. However, sand does have high permeability)

Question 5

Aquiclude

Answer 5

rock that has no flow (ex: unfractured crystalline rock… clay

Question 6

Cone of depression

Answer 6

water is pumped from the well too quickly; water table sinks and towers down (dry); causes drawdown (which is caused by heavy use of water)

Question 7

Artesian wells

Answer 7

a well that rises on its own WITH NO PUMPING; occurs in confined aquifer

Question 8

Karst Topography

Answer 8

landscape formed by soluble bedrock (ex: limestone) that has openings; caves, sinkholes; Mammoth cave and Chocolate Mountains in Phillipines

Question 9

Unconfined Aquifer

Answer 9

water table is exposed to atmosphere and closer to surface (upper boundary); recharged by rainfall; can rise and fall