Chapter 16 GROUNDWATER Groundwater Water that fills and

Chapter 16 GROUNDWATER

Groundwater �Water that fills and moves through pores in rock and sediment �Important part of fresh water

Aquifer �Body of rock or sediment where large amounts of water flow or is stored

Porosity �% of the rock or sediment with open space �Sorting affects porosity

Permeability �Ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through �Impermeable – water cannot flow Clay

Aquifers �Gravity pulls water down until it reaches an impermeable layer

Zones of Aquifers �Saturation – pore space is completely filled with water �Water table – upper layer of zone

�Aeration – Between surface and water table � 3 layers � 1. Soil moisture � 2. Dry � 3. Capillary fringe – attraction of water molecules

Water Tables Change

Conserving Groundwater �Water moves slowly �Years to replace �Recharge zone – water travels to reach an aquifer Sensitive to pollution

Ordinary Well

Ordinary Spring

Cone of Depression

Artesian Formation �Permeable rock between impermeable rock Sloped No pumping

Geysers and Hot Springs

Hard vs Soft Water �Hard – lots of minerals �Soft – low amounts

Cavern �Large cave with smaller chambers

�Stalactites – top �Stalagmites – bottom �Column - connect

Sinkholes �Water dissolves rock

Karst Topography �Caverns and sinkholes in limestone