Physical Geography - Groundwater Features Flashcards
How is water able to be absorbed by rocks?
Because of their permeability.
How is water able to be absorbed by soil?
Soil contains mineral grains with spaces between them.
What is another name for groundwater?
- underground water
- subsurface water
- subterranean water
Describe porous permeability.
Has tiny holes
Describe previous permeability.
Has openings - joints/cracks/fissures
What are the three subsurface zones through which groundwater can percolate.⬇️
- Zone of aeration/ zone of non-saturation
- Zone of intermittent saturation
- Zone of permanent saturation
Which subsurface zone is saturated at intervals?
Zone of intermittent saturation
Which subsurface zone is mostly always above the water table?
Zone of aeration/ zone of non-saturation
Which subsurface zone contains air as well as water in its pores?
Zone of aeration/ zone of non-saturation
Which subsurface zone stays saturated for the whole year?
Zone of permanent saturation
Which subsurface zone is where the water table shifts in response to changes in river levels?
Zone of intermittent saturation
Which subsurface zone is above a form of impervious/impermeable rock?
Zone of permanent saturation
When the soil is fully saturated it is _____ ______?
water logged
Name some features related to groundwater.
Aquifers, Springs, Water table
This is a feature:
The point at which water flows from an aquifer to the earth’s surface is?
A spring
What is an aquifer?
A body of rock that stores/holds ground water.
What is a water table?
The upper level of an underground surface in which the soil or rocks are permanently saturated with water.
Name one groundwater storage. (that was taught)
The Artesian Basin
Describe the Artesian Basin
- it has a synclinal or basin-shaped rock structure
- it stores groundwater and the GW doesn’t move laterally
- it is an aquifer sandwiched between two impermeable rock layers
What is a well?
A hole bored into an aquifer
What is the name of the well in an artesian basin?
The Artesian Well
What affects the formation of an aquifer?
The shape of the rock layer
GW is
Reliable
Explain why?
because it is usually available
GW is
A natural reservoir
Explain why?
the aquifer that stores the GW is like a dam under the surface
GW is
Available throughout the year
Explain why?
- it’s not lost through evaporation
- it takes time for water underground to reach the surface
GW is
Used for farming and irrigation
Explain why?
farmers can extract water from aquifers to water their crop
GW is
High quality
Explain why?
it has added minerals
GW is
High in purity
Explain why?
the rocks act like a strainer to filter the water
GW is
A source of energy
Explain why?
geo-thermal energy underground
When GW gets hot it’s used as steam/hot water for industrial purposes
GW is
Useful to the economy
Explain why?
we use it for domestic purposes and it is one of the few water bodies where we can get drinking water
it accounts for 97% of global freshwater resources
