Groundwater Vocabulary n Cohesion Ability of water to

Groundwater

Vocabulary n Cohesion – Ability of water to stick to itself n Adhesion – Ability of water to stick to other materials n Capillary water – Water stuck to the outside of soil particles (water retained) n Capillary action – The upward movement of water through narrow passages due to the force of adhesion and cohesion

Zones of Subsurface water

Zones of Subsurface water n Zone of Aeration – Zone where pores are not completely filled with water n Zone of Saturation – Zone where pore spaces are completely filled with water n Water Table – Top of the zone of saturation n Capillary fringe – small area just above water table where water is pulled up by capillary action (smaller particles more capillary action)

Zones of Subsurface water

Zones of Subsurface water n Groundwater – Water in the zone of saturation n Aquifer – a layer of rock or soil that holds groundwater

Gravity well n Hole dug in ground to the water table. Water must be pumped up to the surface.

Artesian Well that yields water without pumping n Water is under pressure from gravity – Confined aquifer

Karst topography n Created by groundwater dissolving soluble rocks and creating caverns

Springs n. A place where the water table touches the earths surface n Hot spring -