groundwater - exam 2 Flashcards
what is the most major reservoir of liquid freshwater readily available to humans?
groundwater
the dissolving action of groundwater slowly removes soluble rock such as limestone, creating?
surface depressions known as sinkholes and subterranean caverns
what is groundwater most used for compared to all other uses combined?
irrigation
the upper limit of the zone of saturation is called?
the water table
the water table is highly
invariable
an important characteristic of the configuration of what varies seasonally and yearly because ether addition of water to the groundwater system is closely related to the quantity, distribution, and timing of precipitation?
the water table
the elevation of the water table is mapped and studied in detail by examining?
water levels in wells
a stream that gains water from the inflow of groundwater through the steambed?
a gaining stream
a stream that loses water to the groundwater system by outflow through the steambed
a losing stream
for a losing stream to occur, the water table must sit
lower than the surface of the stream
for a gaining stream to occur, the elevation of the water table must be
higher than the level of the surface of the stream
the quantity of groundwater that can be stored depends on the ____ of a material
porosity
the two factors that strongly influence the rate of groundwater movement and the amount of groundwater that can be stored
porosity and permeability
pores must be connected and large enough in a rock to
allow water to flow through it
permeability is
a materials ability for a liquid to penetrate and transmit through it
the smaller the pores/ porosity of a rock, what is the pace in which the water moves?
water is moved slowly
the ability of a clay deposit to store water is great because of its high porosity, but its pore spaces are so small that water is unable to move through it. we would refer to clay as
impermeable
impermeable layers that prevent or hinder the movement of groundwater are referred to as
aquitards
permeable rock strata or sediments that transmit groundwater freely are referred to as
aquifers
common examples of aquifers
sand and gravels
common examples of aquitards
clay
our modern understanding of groundwater movement comes from the mid nineteenth century by the work of
henri darcy
the coefficient coined by henri darcy
hydraulic conductivity
subsurface geology exhibits a complicated arrangement of aquifer units with
high hydraulic conductivity
subsurface geology exhibits a complicated arrangement of aquitards
low hydraulic conductivity
the expression of the hydraulic gradient has come to be called
darcy’s law
the hydraulic gradient is also referred to as
the water table slope
an aquitard situated above the main water table forms a
perched water table
this term is applied to any situation in which groundwater under pressure rises above the level of the aquifer
artesian
when the surface pressure is above the ground and a well is drilled into the aquifer, what is created?
a flowing artesian wall
the term for when a water table intersects earth’s surface and a natural outflow of groundwater results
a spring
when groundwater circulates at great depths it can become heated. if this water then rises to the surface, it may emerge as
a hot spring
intermittent hot springs or fountains in which columns of water are ejected with great force at various intervals
geysers
the most spectacular results of groundwater intrusion
limestone caverns
