Environmental science - groundwater and aquifers
What is the primary source of groundwater?
Rainfall and snowmelt
Which of the following is an example of a confined aquifer?
Porous rock layer with water above it
What is the process of water movement from the ground surface to the aquifer called?
Infiltration
Which of the following is a potential consequence of over-pumping groundwater?
Land subsidence
How does groundwater pollution primarily occur?
Through industrial discharges
What is the term for the uppermost level at which the groundwater fully saturates rock or soil?
Water table
Which of the following is a human activity that can lead to groundwater contamination?
Pesticide use
What is the phenomenon in which saltwater intrudes into freshwater aquifers near coastal areas?
Saltwater intrusion
Which of the following is a common method used for groundwater remediation?
Bioremediation
What is the term for the process of extracting groundwater from an aquifer using a well?
Groundwater withdrawal
What is porosity ?
The measure of a rocks ability to hold water
what is Permeability
How readily fluid can flow freely through a material
What is an aquifer
Porous layer of rock that is able to store/hold great amounts of water
What is a capillary fringe?
Transition between unsaturated and saturated zone; top of aquifer
What is the zone of aeration?
unsaturated layer- mostly air but some water
What is the zone of saturation?
Pores completely saturated with water ; main aquifer storage
What is the soil moisture zone?
Usually top soil; a lot of organic matter and moisture
What is a dam?
an obstruction placed in a river or stream to blocks its flow
What is freshwater and groundwater?
Freshwater is relatively pure water with few dissolved salts. Groundwater is freshwater below the Earth's surface
What is an aquifer's recharge zone?
an area where surface water soaks into the ground and reaches an aquifer
What is a reservoir ?
an artificial lake where water for human use is stored
What is runoff?
water that flows over land and collects in a stream or river
What is a water table?
the boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation in an aquifer