Groundwater Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is groundwater?
Water stored in the pores of soil, sediment, or bedrock fractures
What is the vadose zone?
The unsaturated zone above the water table
What is an aquifer?
A porous and permeable layer that allows groundwater flow
What is permeability?
The ability of a material to transmit fluids
Why does clay, despite high porosity, yield less groundwater than sand?
Clay has very low permeability
What does Darcy’s Law calculate?
Groundwater flow based on hydraulic gradient and permeability
What is a perched water table?
A false water table above an aquitard
What is a gaining stream?
A stream into which groundwater flows
What is a major consequence of over-pumping groundwater?
Land subsidence and aquifer collapse
What type of landscape is formed by groundwater dissolving limestone?
Karst topography
