ch 27.3 Flashcards
(28 cards)
process which water enters earth and becomes groundwater below the surface
Infiltration
upper boundary of saturated zone
water table
rock unit that can transfer water through its pores space
aquifer
material is the percentage of materials total volume that is pore space
porosity
what percentage of water on earth is salt water?
97%
what percentage of water on earth is freshwater?
3%
where is the majority of freshwater found?
2% of 3% found in glaciers
where is the smaller percentage of freshwater found?
lakes rivers
ground water
what is precipitation?
when water vapor in the air cools and condenses
Ex: rain ,snow,sleet and hail
what is runoff?
water running off the land surface
what is infiltration?
process by which water enters earth and becomes groundwater below the surface
what is transpiration?
when plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves
what is evaporation?
when water enters the atmosphere as water vapor
what is condensation?
when water vapor collides with other water vapors molecules to form water droplets
what is the water cycle?
water on the land that goes into the atmosphere then eventually returns back to the land
what is an unsaturated zone for groundwater storage?
a porous area where water easily passes through
what is a saturated zone for groundwater storage?
beneath the unsaturated zone where water completely fills the pore space
what is a water table?
the upper boundary of the saturated zone
what does it mean if sediment is permeable?
The more permeable is the easier water can pass through
what is an aquifer?
a rock unit that can transfer water through its pore space
what is the name of the Great plains aquifer?
Ogallala Aquifer
how many states does the great plains aquifer run through?
its runs through 8 states
what are the names of the states that the great plains aquifer runs through?
South Dakota Wyoming Nebraska Colorado Kansas Oklahoma New Mexico Texas
what is an aquitards?
keep water confined
