Groundwater terms flashcard

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What is porosity?

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Porosity is the measure of the void spaces in a material, expressed as a fraction of the total volume. A material with high porosity has a lot of space between its particles.

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What is runoff?

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Runoff is the flow of water that occurs when excess rainwater, meltwater, or other sources flows over the Earth's surface. It can be influenced by surface materials, slope, and vegetation.

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What is the saturated zone?

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The saturated zone is the layer of soil or rock where all the pores are filled with water. It is located below the water table.

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What is the unsaturated zone?

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The unsaturated zone is the layer of soil or rock above the saturated zone where the pores contain both air and water.

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What is a water table?

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The water table is the upper surface of the saturated zone in an aquifer, marking the boundary between the saturated and unsaturated zones.

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What is an aquifer?

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An aquifer is a geological formation that can store and transmit water, typically composed of permeable rock or sediment.

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What is a confined aquifer?

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A confined aquifer is an aquifer that is trapped between two impermeable layers of rock or sediment, which restricts water flow.

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What is an unconfined aquifer?

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An unconfined aquifer is an aquifer that is open to the surface and is recharged directly by rainfall and surface water.

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What factors affect groundwater recharge?

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Groundwater recharge is affected by precipitation, soil permeability, vegetation, and land use practices.

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What is the significance of the water table?

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The water table is significant because it indicates the level at which groundwater can be found and affects the availability of water for wells and ecosystems.