Geology 101 Chapter 17

Which of the following is true regarding groundwater as you move deeper below the surface? A. Groundwater moves over larger distances, over longer timescales. B. Groundwater moves over smaller distances, but takes longer to travel between locations. C. The turnover of water becomes relatively rapid, as it enters through filtration and leaves through water bodies. D. Deep water is commonly lost to water bodies at the surface. E. Variations in surface topography are much more important to flow patterns than subsurface geology.

A. Groundwater moves over larger distances, over longer timescales.

How would the water table be affected if Earth were made up of uniform, permeable material? A. The water table would not exist. B. The water table would be unaffected. C. The water table would be a little shallower. D. The water table would be a little deeper.

A. The water table would not exist.

How does the use of water by humans affect the water table? A. Use of water by humans increases discharge, resulting in lowered water tables. B. Use of water by humans decreases discharge, resulting in lowered water tables. C. Use of water by humans decreases discharge, resulting in raised water tables. D. Use of water by humans increases discharge, resulting in raised water tables.

A. Use of water by humans increases discharge, resulting in lowered water tables.

Which of the following represent the largest volume of freshwater found on Earth? A. ice sheets and glaciers B. water vapor in the atmosphere C. groundwater D. oceans

A. ice sheets and glaciers

Which of the following is necessary to calculate hydraulic gradient? A. the distance between two wells that penetrate the zone of saturation B. the slope of the water table between two wells C. the depth at which one well penetrates the zone of saturation D. the thickness of impermeable units

A. the distance between two wells that penetrate the zone of saturation

Which of the following best describes the cone of depression? A. a bulge formed in the water table due to a stream that is separated from the groundwater system by the unsaturated zone B. a dimple in the water table surface due to water pumped faster than an aquifer can be replenished C. a bulge in the water table surface due to aquifer replenishment rate exceeding pumping rate D. a dimple in the water table surface formed from changes in pressure from a ridge to stream valley E. a depression of the water table surface due to a relatively impermeable zone in an aquifer

B. a dimple in the water table surface due to water pumped faster than an aquifer can be replenished

Groundwater flows from __________. A. discharge to recharge areas B. high to low pressure areas C. valleys to drainage divides D. valleys to hills

B. high to low pressure areas

Why does groundwater discharge to Earth's surface? A. Earth's surface is irregular, and permeability increases with depth within Earth. B. Earth's surface is regular, and permeability decreases with depth within Earth. C. Earth's surface is irregular, and permeability decreases with depth within Earth. D. Earth's surface is regular, and permeability increases with depth within Earth.

C. Earth's surface is irregular, and permeability decreases with depth within Earth.

What happens after a geyser erupts? A. Water deep within the chambers turns to steam and quickly evacuates. B. The empty chambers are filled with molten rock from below. C. The underground plumbing of the geyser has changed and eruption ceases. D. Cool groundwater seeps back into the underground chambers, and the cycle starts again. E. Minerals precipitate in the caverns, preventing further eruptions.

C. The underground plumbing of the geyser has changed and eruption ceases.

The cone of depression __________ near a well. A. does not affect the hydraulic gradient B. decreases water velocity C. increases the hydraulic gradient D. decreases the hydraulic gradient E. decreases drawdown

C. increases the hydraulic gradient

A __________ is separated from the groundwater system by the unsaturated zone. A. capillary fringe B. gaining stream C. losing stream (disconnected) D. losing stream (connected)

C. losing stream (disconnected)

To ensure a continuous supply of water, a well must do what? A. pierce the water table surface B. be drilled into the unsaturated zone C. penetrate well below the regional water table surface D. be drilled through an aquitard E. be drilled into a perched aquifer

C. penetrate well below the regional water table surface

What is the water table? A. the zone beneath Earth's surface that is just above the zone that is saturated with water B. the top of the saturated zone beneath Earth's surface C. the bottom of the saturated zone beneath Earth's surface D. the zone beneath Earth's surface that is saturated with water

C. the bottom of the saturated zone beneath Earth's surface

In the __________, groundwater fills the pore space. A. bedrock B. water table C. zone of saturation D. capillary fringe

C. zone of saturation

Which of the following is a true statement about groundwater? A. Groundwater makes up the largest total volume of freshwater on Earth today. B. The groundwater table does not mimic surface topography. C. Groundwater makes up only about 6% of all liquid (unfrozen) fresh water. D. Water in a groundwater system is stored in subsurface pore spaces and fractures.

D. Water in a groundwater system is stored in subsurface pore spaces and fractures.

A perched aquifer is located directly above a(n) __________. A. water table B. recharge area C. discharge area D. aquatard E. regional aquifer

D. aquatard

A(n) __________ acts as a conduit that brings heated water to the surface. A. water table B. underground chamber C. hot spring D. fault E. magma body

D. fault

__________ are intermittent springs that eject columns of water and steam at various time intervals. A. Yellowstone national park B. hot springs C. caverns D. geysers E. springs

D. geysers

The water table __________. A. represents the lower limit of the zone of saturation B. is only observed where it reaches the surface C. reaches its lowest level beneath hills and ascends toward valleys D. surface is a subdued version of the surface topography

D. surface is a subdued version of the surface topography

In which situation does the cone of depression need to be taken into account? A. Two domestic wells are drilled well above the water table. B. A well drilled into a perched water table was successful. C. A well for industrial purposes is drilled very far away from smaller, domestic wells. D. A well for industrial purposes is located across a drainage divide, in relation to domestic wells. E. A well for industrial purposes is located across a drainage divide, in relation to domestic wells.

E. A well for industrial purposes is located across a drainage divide, in relation to domestic wells.

When water is pumped from a well, drawdown occurs. Which of the following is a true statement regarding drawdown? A. Drawdown is negligible where heavy pumping occurs. B. Regardless of pumping, drawdown only occurs during dry periods. C. Drawdown decreases with decreasing distance from the well. D. Drawdown increases with increasing distance from the well. E. Drawdown decreases with increasing distance from the well.

E. Drawdown decreases with increasing distance from the well.

What prevents water at the bottom of the underground caverns from boiling at the normal surface temperature? A. The water has a lot of room to expand; therefore, the boiling point increases. B. The addition of cooler water from surrounding pore space causes boiling point to increase. C. The narrow conduits present between caverns cause boiling point to increase. D. The magma body below does not reach a sufficient temperature for water to boil. E. The pressure from the weight of overlying water causes the boiling point to increase.

E. The pressure from the weight of overlying water causes the boiling point to increase.

Once overlying water heats to a sufficient temperature, it __________ and releases pressure on the water below. A. flows downward toward the heat source B. condenses C. boils D. seeps into surrounding pores E. flashes to steam

E. flashes to steam