Groundwater Quiz Questions and Answers

What is groundwater and where is it located?

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

What percentage of Earth's liquid freshwater is made up of streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds?

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

How does water get underground?

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

Which type of soil is better at absorbing groundwater, sand or clay?

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

What is the saturated zone?

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

What is the water table?

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. Signup and view all the answers

What are sinkholes and how are they formed?

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. Signup and view all the answers

How are caves and caverns formed?

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

What type of rock are sinkholes often made of?

Sinkholes are often made of limestone. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of sediment in the formation of sedimentary rock?

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

How does groundwater get heated up underground?

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

What happens when groundwater is pumped out?

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. Signup and view all the answers

What can be found in some cave systems?

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

What is groundwater?

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

What is the Ogallala Aquifer?

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

How do aquifers form?

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. Signup and view all the answers

What causes geysers to form?

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

Why is groundwater important for natural ecosystems?

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

What are sinkholes and how are they formed?

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. Signup and view all the answers