The Groundwater Quiz

Groundwater is the water present beneath the Earth's surface and it is located in underground reservoirs called aquifers.

Only about 1% of Earth's liquid freshwater is made up of streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Water gets underground when it precipitates, like with rain or snow, and the ground absorbs the falling water.

<p>Sand is better at absorbing groundwater compared to clay.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The saturated zone is the region underground where groundwater completely fills any open spaces.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The water table is the boundary where the saturated and unsaturated zones meet, and it is the level at which groundwater is found in the ground.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sinkholes are funnel-shaped holes in the surface that are created when groundwater is removed, leaving behind an empty space. The ground sinks down to fill this open space.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Caves and caverns are formed when groundwater dissolves rock underground, creating large, open spaces.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sinkholes are often made of limestone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sediment acts like a cement, gluing sediments together and forming sedimentary rock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Groundwater may get heated up underground by near-surface magma, which can push out steam when the pressure becomes too much.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When groundwater is pumped out for things like drinking water and agriculture, it leaves behind an empty space, potentially leading to the formation of sinkholes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some cave systems are connected over many miles, like a large underground highway extending from one cave to the other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Groundwater is water that is stored underground in aquifers, which are underground water reservoirs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Ogallala Aquifer is one of the world's largest aquifers, stretching from South Dakota to Texas and from Colorado to Arkansas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Aquifers are usually made of rock like limestone that acts like a giant rock sponge, soaking up water and holding it for thousands of years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Geysers form when underground water is heated by a near-surface magma source, causing pressure to build up and escape at the surface.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Groundwater is a source of freshwater for surface water systems like wetlands and rivers, which are essential for natural ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sinkholes are funnel-shaped cavities in the ground that occur when groundwater is removed, causing the land above to sink downward and fill the empty space.</p> Signup and view all the answers