Exam 12: Groundwater

What are some possible consequences of modifications to the groundwater system caused by human usage?

Why are porosity and permeability important to groundwater?

The general term for deposits of calcite and/or aragonite within caves is:

The percentage of open space within a rock or sediment is known as its ____________________.

Slightly acidic water reacts with calcite in an aquifer to form soluble sodium bicarbonate.

On what factors does permeability depend?

What causes the subsidence that sometimes accompanies groundwater use?

About 22% of all usable water in the United States comes from groundwater.

What happens to the water table in an aquifer if the amount of groundwater discharged naturally or withdrawn at wells is greater than the amount added from natural or artificial sources?

An example of a rock/sediment type that could be an effective aquiclude is:

Saltwater incursion occurs primarily along coastlines.

How do landfills cause groundwater contamination? What can be done in the construction of a landfill that will make it less likely to contaminate groundwater?

The zone of saturation extends to an indefinite depth.

The boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation is known as the ____________________.

One common,widespread sedimentary rock that is readily dissolved by groundwater is ____________________.

During times of drought,the water table ____________________.

How are minor impurities filtered out of groundwater?

Describe saltwater incursion.What methods are used to counteract saltwater incursion?

Rounded depressions common in regions having limestone bedrock are known as ____________________.

A stream that just disappears has flowed into a(n)____________________.