Question 1

In addition to its immense size,what else is unusual about Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico?

Accepted Answer

A)  Geologists think the system was produced by sulfuric acid rather than carbonic acid. 
B)  The caverns are within a deposit of rock salt rather than limestone. 
C)  The caverns were formed within the span of just a few days in 1937. 
D)  Although there are conduits to the surface,the caverns do not host a population of bats. 
A)  Geologists think the system was produced by sulfuric acid rather than carbonic acid. 
B)  The caverns are within a deposit of rock salt rather than limestone. 
C)  The caverns were formed within the span of just a few days in 1937. 
D)  Although there are conduits to the surface,the caverns do not host a population of bats.

Question 2

In the image below,label the confined aquifer,the unconfined aquifer,and the aquitard.If you were to drill a well for personal use in this region,which of these three layers would you access? Why?

Accepted Answer

Students should label from top to bottom

Question 3

Why does an artesian well flow without pumping?

Accepted Answer

A)  The water table is at the surface in an artesian aquifer. 
B)  The hydraulic head is very low in the aquifer. 
C)  The water in an unconfined aquifer is pressurized. 
D)  The water in a confined aquifer is pressurized. 
A)  The water table is at the surface in an artesian aquifer. 
B)  The hydraulic head is very low in the aquifer. 
C)  The water in an unconfined aquifer is pressurized. 
D)  The water in a confined aquifer is pressurized.

Question 4

Porosity is best described by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  the hardness of a rock or sediment 
B)  the chemistry of a fluid in a rock or sediment 
C)  the amount of open space in a rock or sediment 
D)  the ability of fluids to pass through a substance (rock or sediment) 
A)  the hardness of a rock or sediment 
B)  the chemistry of a fluid in a rock or sediment 
C)  the amount of open space in a rock or sediment 
D)  the ability of fluids to pass through a substance (rock or sediment)

Question 5

You are drilling a water well when you hit water at a much shallower level than you expected.What have you likely found?

Accepted Answer

A)  an artesian aquifer 
B)  a perched aquifer 
C)  a natural spring 
D)  an aquiclude 
A)  an artesian aquifer 
B)  a perched aquifer 
C)  a natural spring 
D)  an aquiclude

Question 6

The dissolution of rock produces ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  primary porosity 
B)  primary permeability 
C)  secondary porosity 
D)  a reduction in primary porosity 
A)  primary porosity 
B)  primary permeability 
C)  secondary porosity 
D)  a reduction in primary porosity

Question 7

Pumping vast quantities of water locally ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  raises the local water table 
B)  lowers the local water table,forming a cone-shaped depression 
C)  lowers the local water table,forming a cylindrical depression 
D)  does not affect the water table 
A)  raises the local water table 
B)  lowers the local water table,forming a cone-shaped depression 
C)  lowers the local water table,forming a cylindrical depression 
D)  does not affect the water table

Question 8

A periodic explosive eruption of steam and water from within the ground up through the surface is termed a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

A)  artesian well 
B)  geyser 
C)  spring 
D)  recharge area 
A)  artesian well 
B)  geyser 
C)  spring 
D)  recharge area

Question 9

The porosity of vesicular basalt is about 25%; however,when water is poured on it,the water does not come out the other side.How is this possible?

Accepted Answer

A)  The vesicles in basalt are filled with sediments and thus cannot hold water. 
B)  The vesicles in basalt are not connected,so it has no permeability. 
C)  The minerals in the basalt react chemically with the water to produce gases. 
D)  Vesicular basalt is similar to a sponge and will soak up all the water. 
A)  The vesicles in basalt are filled with sediments and thus cannot hold water. 
B)  The vesicles in basalt are not connected,so it has no permeability. 
C)  The minerals in the basalt react chemically with the water to produce gases. 
D)  Vesicular basalt is similar to a sponge and will soak up all the water.

Question 10

The majority of liquid freshwater within the Earth exists in ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  lakes 
B)  rivers and streams 
C)  groundwater 
D)  atmospheric clouds 
A)  lakes 
B)  rivers and streams 
C)  groundwater 
D)  atmospheric clouds

Question 11

A flowing artesian well is one that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  discharges groundwater at the ground surface without pumping 
B)  has its intake sited within the vadose zone of an unconfined aquifer 
C)  has its intake sited within the unsaturated zone of an unconfined aquifer 
D)  has its recharge area at an elevation below sea level 
A)  discharges groundwater at the ground surface without pumping 
B)  has its intake sited within the vadose zone of an unconfined aquifer 
C)  has its intake sited within the unsaturated zone of an unconfined aquifer 
D)  has its recharge area at an elevation below sea level

Question 12

The water table surface mimics the topography in an area because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  hydraulic head forces it to stay close to the surface 
B)  the permeability is lowest in hilly areas 
C)  groundwater cannot penetrate below aquitards 
D)  groundwater flow rates are so low 
A)  hydraulic head forces it to stay close to the surface 
B)  the permeability is lowest in hilly areas 
C)  groundwater cannot penetrate below aquitards 
D)  groundwater flow rates are so low

Question 13

What are porosity and permeability,and how do they affect the rate of groundwater flow?

Accepted Answer

Porosity refers to the pore (open)spaces

Question 14

Hot groundwater is mineralized because

Accepted Answer

A)  minerals cannot precipitate in hot water. 
B)  the hot water dissolves minerals. 
C)  cold water cannot dissolve minerals. 
D)  hot water flows deeper in the Earth. 
A)  minerals cannot precipitate in hot water. 
B)  the hot water dissolves minerals. 
C)  cold water cannot dissolve minerals. 
D)  hot water flows deeper in the Earth.

Question 15

Material through which water readily flows is termed ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  fluent 
B)  porous 
C)  permeable 
D)  fluid 
A)  fluent 
B)  porous 
C)  permeable 
D)  fluid

Question 16

The commercial distribution of bottled "spring water" has become a major business worldwide,and many people think that this water offers health benefits.Evaluate this belief.How is spring water different from groundwater?

Accepted Answer

Student answers will vary but should be

Question 17

Imagine you have a layer of limestone with high porosity but low permeability.What can you do to increase its permeability to allow water to be pumped from the layer and used as a source of drinking water?

Accepted Answer

A)  Add salt to the water to increase its density so that it flows more readily. 
B)  Drill down to the layer and set off explosives in the hole to fracture the rock. 
C)  Remove the overburden so that there will be less pressure trapping the water. 
D)  Increase the hydraulic conductivity by adding metals to the water. 
A)  Add salt to the water to increase its density so that it flows more readily. 
B)  Drill down to the layer and set off explosives in the hole to fracture the rock. 
C)  Remove the overburden so that there will be less pressure trapping the water. 
D)  Increase the hydraulic conductivity by adding metals to the water.

Question 18

The rate of groundwater flow per unit area through a body of rock or sediment depends ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  only on the slope of the local water table 
B)  only on the porosity of the rock or sediment 
C)  on the slope of the water table and the porosity of the rock or sediment 
D)  on the slope of the water table and the permeability of the rock or sediment 
A)  only on the slope of the local water table 
B)  only on the porosity of the rock or sediment 
C)  on the slope of the water table and the porosity of the rock or sediment 
D)  on the slope of the water table and the permeability of the rock or sediment

Question 19

Ultimately geysers erupt because of the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  periodic opening and closing of a fracture. 
B)  mixing of hot and cold water to form steam. 
C)  decrease in pressure as water rises,allowing it to flash to steam. 
D)  increase in pressure from the hot water,which prevents boiling. 
A)  periodic opening and closing of a fracture. 
B)  mixing of hot and cold water to form steam. 
C)  decrease in pressure as water rises,allowing it to flash to steam. 
D)  increase in pressure from the hot water,which prevents boiling.

Question 20

Where would you expect to find geysers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Iceland 
B)  England 
C)  Antarctica 
D)  Greenland 
A)  Iceland 
B)  England 
C)  Antarctica 
D)  Greenland

Exam 19: A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

In addition to its immense size,what else is unusual about Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico?

In the image below,label the confined aquifer,the unconfined aquifer,and the aquitard.If you were to drill a well for personal use in this region,which of these three layers would you access? Why?

Why does an artesian well flow without pumping?

Porosity is best described by which of the following?

You are drilling a water well when you hit water at a much shallower level than you expected.What have you likely found?

The dissolution of rock produces ________.

Pumping vast quantities of water locally ________.

A periodic explosive eruption of steam and water from within the ground up through the surface is termed a(n)________.

The porosity of vesicular basalt is about 25%; however,when water is poured on it,the water does not come out the other side.How is this possible?

The majority of liquid freshwater within the Earth exists in ________.

A flowing artesian well is one that ________.

The water table surface mimics the topography in an area because ________.

What are porosity and permeability,and how do they affect the rate of groundwater flow?

Hot groundwater is mineralized because

Material through which water readily flows is termed ________.

The commercial distribution of bottled "spring water" has become a major business worldwide,and many people think that this water offers health benefits.Evaluate this belief.How is spring water different from groundwater?

Imagine you have a layer of limestone with high porosity but low permeability.What can you do to increase its permeability to allow water to be pumped from the layer and used as a source of drinking water?

The rate of groundwater flow per unit area through a body of rock or sediment depends ________.

Ultimately geysers erupt because of the __________.

Where would you expect to find geysers?

Cosmology and the Birth of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags,cracks,and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of the Earth

Squeezing Power From a Stone: Energy Resources

Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

An Envelope of Gas: the Earths Atmosphere and Climate

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Global Change in the Earth System

Introducing Rocks

a Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

the Rock Cycle in the Earth System

the Earths Interior, Revisited: Seismic Layering, Gravity, and the Magnetic Field

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

Prelude: and Just What Is Geology

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