Weather & Flowing Water (part two)

Question 1

Define creep in terms of geology:

Answer 1

Slow almost imperceptible mass movement.

-this is a continuous process

Question 2

Define Solifluction:

Answer 2

-Flow of soil occurring mostly cold high latitudes

Question 3

What are the three pathways of water at the surface?

Answer 3

• Infiltration
• Evapotranspiration (Vegetation uptake and
  evaporation)
• Runoff

Question 4

What four features does infiltration depend on?

Answer 4

1. Physcial characteristics of soil
   - Coarse soils = greater inflitration rates
2. Moisture content of soil
   - Dry soils absorb more moisture
3. Vegetation cover
   - Dense cover prevents infiltration
4. Nature of rainfall
   - Strong and long storms cause run-off
   - Run-off flows to streams or permeable soil or rock

Question 5

What three factors affect a streams velocity?

Answer 5

1. Gradient
2. Channel Characteristics
3. Discharge

Question 6

Define gradient:

Answer 6

Change in stream elevation between two points
-Steeper river slopes (gradient)
equal faster flow

Question 7

Define Channel Characteristic:

Answer 7

Shape, Size and Roughness
- V or U shape, Big or small, rough or
smooth

Question 8

Define Stream Discharge:

Answer 8

Water volume passing a channel’s cross-section

in a certain amount of time

Question 9

What percentage of all the water on Earth is usable for humans, animals, and insects to share?

Answer 9

less that one percent. (0.62%)

Question 10

What is the most critical resource the earth has?

Answer 10

Water

Question 11

What is the second most important resource we have on earth?

Answer 11

Soil

Question 12

The Zone of Saturation is also called:

Answer 12

The Phreatic Zone

Question 13

Zone of aeration is also called:

Answer 13

The Vadose Zone

Question 14

In the Vadose Zone, water moves by:

Answer 14

percolation, capillary actions, and evaporation

Question 15

what is capillary action?

Answer 15

water moving from wetter soil to drier soil

Question 16

What is percolation?

Answer 16

water movement due to the force of gravity.

Question 17

Where is the water table located?

Answer 17

in the uppermost part of the Phreatic Zone( Zone of Saturation)

Question 18

Where are aquifers mainly found?

Answer 18

generally found in the Zone of Saturation (Phreatic Zone), Aquifers are fully or partially saturated zones

Question 19

Define aquifers:

Answer 19

water that is stored in the ground, generally between porous or other types of rock beds where there is enough room between rocks for the water to be held

Question 20

Define Aquiclude:

Answer 20

Aquicludes stop the infiltration of water, and keeps the water trapped in its current location. Aquicludes can be found mainly underneath aquifers.

Question 21

Define Cones of Depression:

Answer 21

Cone of Depression is the result of water being extracted from aquifers, causing the ground to dip or sink down, forming an indention in the ground. The more water you withdraw, the deep the cone becomes.

Question 22

What are the top two types of rocks that make excellent aquiers?

Answer 22

Porous Sandstones and Limestones

Question 23

What are two very good aquicludes?

Answer 23

Shale and mudstones act as excellent aquicludes, because they do not allow water to pass.

Question 24

Define unconfined aquifer:

Answer 24

Unconfined aquifers receive water from infiltration

-Water moves from high to low areas

Question 25

What are the top two types of rocks that make excellent aquiers?

Answer 25

Porous Sandstones and Limestones

Question 26

What are two very good aquicludes?

Answer 26

Shale and mudstones act as excellent aquicludes, because they do not allow water to pass.

Question 27

What is Saltwater Intrusion?

Answer 27

Saltwater intrusion occurs when groundwater that has been used up in the aquifers and saltwater has worked itself into the pore space of the rocks.
-This contaminates wells

Question 28

Where are confined Aquifers found?

Answer 28

between two aquicludes

Question 29

Well drilled into water aquifers to extract water, cause two major issues. What are they?

Answer 29

Cones of Depression

Saltwater Intrusion

Question 30

What is Saltwater Intrusion?

Answer 30

Saltwater intrusion occurs when groundwater that has been used up in the aquifers and saltwater has worked itself into the pore space of the rocks.
-This contaminates wells

Question 31

Define Velocity in terms of flowing water:

Answer 31

The faster it moves, the stronger it is/becomes