AIM: How do people use water in the ground?

Do Now:

Looking at the 3 jars below (filled with the same amount of sorted beads), describe the Permeability, Porosity and Capillarity of each.

I. Water Table

• Zone of Aeration

Pore space contains mostly air.

• Zone of Saturation

Pore space contains mostly water.

- Marks the location of water underground (boundary). - rises with precipitation and lowers with evaporation and usage.

What must exist below the zone of saturation for water to fill in

the spaces?Impermeable

Rock

A. Groundwater is the zone of saturation.

- water sheds (drainage basin) are the areas of land where water infiltrates to create the groundwater supply.

- ground water can fill lakes, swamps and rivers when there is little precipitation.

Is the amount of ground water constant? Give an example of something that might change the

amount of ground water?

B. Aquifer – permeable soil/rock that allows groundwater to move freely.

**This is filled by the water shed area.

Impermeable rock

A. Springs – areas where the water table rises and meets the surface naturally.

- Hot SpringsWater is heated by magma underground.

II. Groundwater Features

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

B. Geysers – pressurized heated water that is forced out of the ground.

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

- Heat comes from magma

What do you think supplies

the heat?

C. Wells - holes dug below the water table so people can access water.

- this forms a cone of depression in the water table.

• Pumping causes a drawdown (lowering) of the water table.

III. Groundwater Problems

1) Overuse and contamination threatens groundwater supplies.

2) Sinkholes - surface depressions.- over use of the ground water causes

subsidence (sinking)- bedrock dissolves (limestone) and the

ground collapses.

Closure:• With the person sitting next you, explain

what would happen to the water table and ground water supply if there were many wells dug into the ground in one area?

• Describe what might make the water table move up or down within the ground?

Review Book p.128-130 # 1-10