Ground Water Definitions Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is surface water?

Water found on the surface of the Earth.

What is ground water?

Water found below the surface of the Earth, usually stored in aquifers.

What is an aquifer?

An underground layer of sand, gravel, or rock that holds water.

What is the water table?

The top of an area of water-filled ground. Signup and view all the answers

What is the saturated zone?

The region underground where water fills all the space between pieces of soil and sediment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the unsaturated zone?

The region underground where water hasn't filled the spaces between soil and sediment. Signup and view all the answers

What is runoff?

Rainwater that flows over the surface of the ground and into streams and other bodies of surface water. Signup and view all the answers

What is drawdown?

Occurs when water is removed from the ground faster than it can be replaced. Signup and view all the answers

What is porosity?

The amount of empty spaces in the ground that can hold liquids like water. Signup and view all the answers

What is permeability?

A measure of how easily water can flow through the ground. Signup and view all the answers

What is a confined aquifer?

An aquifer bounded on top by a dense layer of sediment or rock that water can't pass through. Signup and view all the answers

What is an unconfined aquifer?

An aquifer with no confining layer of dense sediment or rock on top. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to percolate?

To seep downward through soil, sand, and gravel from surface to aquifer. Signup and view all the answers

What is a recharge zone?

The area of land above an aquifer where precipitation falls and soaks in down to the aquifer. Signup and view all the answers

What is an artesian spring?

Occurs when the groundwater, under pressure, finds its way to the land surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is a piezometer?

A monitoring well. Signup and view all the answers

What is point source pollution?

Pollution that can be traced from one source. Signup and view all the answers

What is non-point source pollution?

Pollution from multiple or undetermined sources. Signup and view all the answers

What is leachate?

When seeps down through a landfill and contains dissolved chemicals from decomposing garbage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a well?

A pit or hole sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Water Definitions and Concepts

Surface Water: Water located on the Earth's surface, encompassing rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Ground Water: Water located beneath the Earth’s surface, primarily found in aquifers.
Aquifer: An underground layer made of sand, gravel, or rock capable of storing water, crucial for water supply.
Water Table: The upper limit of the saturated zone; the level at which soil or rock is fully saturated with water.

Zones within Ground Water

Saturated Zone: Area where all spaces between soil and sediment are filled with water, vital for aquifer replenishment.
Unsaturated Zone: Region above the saturated zone where spaces between particles contain air and are not fully water-saturated.

Water Movement and Impact

Runoff: Water, primarily from rainfall, that flows over the land surface into bodies of water, affecting water quality and ecosystem health.
Drawdown: The reduction in the water level in an aquifer due to excessive water extraction, impacting availability.

Key Aquifer Characteristics

Porosity: The amount of empty spaces in soil/rock that can store liquids, impacting water availability.
Permeability: Indicates how easily water can flow through soil, sediment, or rock, essential for groundwater movement.

Types of Aquifers

Confined Aquifer: Encased by impenetrable layers, leading to pressurized conditions within, affecting water extraction.
Unconfined Aquifer: No overlying dense layer; water levels are influenced directly by surface conditions.

Water Movement Processes

Percolation: The process of water seeping down from the surface through various layers of soil and rock to reach an aquifer.
Recharge Zone: The area where precipitation infiltrates the ground and replenishes the aquifer beneath.

Natural Water Features

Artesian Spring: Occurs when pressurized groundwater flows naturally to the surface, creating a spring without pumping.
Piezometer: A well used to measure water pressure and levels in aquifers, crucial for water resource management.

Pollution Types

Point Source Pollution: Contamination originating from a single identifiable source, making it easier to target for remediation.
Non-point Source Pollution: Pollution that comes from multiple, indistinct sources, complicating detection and management.

Environmental Concerns

Leachate: Toxic liquid formed when water seeps through landfills, potentially harmful due to dissolved chemicals from waste materials.
Well: A constructed hole used to access underground water supplies, essential for drinking water and irrigation.

These concepts form the foundation for understanding groundwater management and the importance of maintaining water quality and availability.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards on ground water terminology. This quiz covers essential definitions related to surface water, aquifers, and the water table. Perfect for students studying environmental science or geology!