ch 13 study guide questions

You should be able to draw an illustration showing the different types of aquifer systems, and how springs might form.

A spring is formed when the pressure in an aquifer causes some of the water to flow out at the surface.

What are some types of groundwater contamination? What has been done since 1970 to help solve these problems?

point and non-point.

What percentage of all unfrozen fresh water is groundwater?

96%

Explain how a geyser works. Give a location where geysers can be seen.

A geyser is a vent in Earth's surface that periodically ejects a column of hot water and steam. Even a small geyser is an amazing phenomenon; however, some geysers have eruptions that blast thousands of gallons of boiling-hot water up to a few hundred feet in the air.Yellow stone national park in Wyoming

How does a spring form, and how is this related to aquifers?

A spring is the result of an aquifer being filled to the point that the water overflows onto the land surface. They range in size from intermittent seeps, which flow only after much rain, to huge pools flowing hundreds of millions of gallons daily.

Explain the similarities and differences between confined and unconfined aquifer systems.

Aquifers can be confined (aquifer material trapped between aquicludes) or unconfined (upper surface at ground level).

What properties of the rock and soil are necessary for something to be a good aquifer? Why might joint or fracture systems be important to an aquifer system?

Gravel makes a good aquifer because it is extremely permeable and porous.

How is karst related to cave formation? What are some of the physical features of caves and caverns?

Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. caves are often adorned with calcium carbonate formations produced through slow precipitation. These include flowstones, stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, soda straws and columns.

The chief threat to groundwater resources is overuse. What are three effects of overuse on an aquifer system? Be able to describe each effect and the consequences in detail.

Lowering the water table, reduced surface water supplies, increased costs.

How do the zones of saturation and aeration relate to the water table? Where is the capillary fringe in relation to the above?

The water tanker is the boundary between these two layers.

What happens at a geothermal energy plant? What type of energy is used and converted? What type of energy is generated?

Water or working fluid is heated (or used directly incase of geothermal dry steam power plants), and then sent through a steam turbine where the thermal energy (heat) is converted to electricity with a generator through a phenomenon called electromagnetic induction

What are the geologic conditions necessary for an artesian system to develop?

are an inclined aquifer sandwiched between impervious rock layers above and below that trap water in it.

Explain how groundwater weathers and erodes Earth materials.

as water moves throygh the soil acid is formed which cause minerals to be dissolved, minerals can also be carried in ground water and deposited other places

Explain why wells in South Georgia produce more water than wells in the Atlanta area.

geology sedimentary rock multiple aquifers in atl all igneous and metamorphic so no porosity sedmentary holds more water

Karst topography is established in areas underlain by what type of sedimentary rock? What type of weathering is primarily responsible? What are some of the physical features of a karst area?

sedimentary rock include carbonate rocks such as limestone, halite, gypsum, dolomite, and anhydrite. Features may include sinkholes or cenotes.