Hydrology test unit 4 earth & environmental

Aquifer**

An underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater.

Base Level

The lowest point to which a river, stream, or landscape can erode, typically sea level or a lake

Land Subsidence

The gradual sinking of land due to the removal or compaction of underground materials, such as groundwater extraction or mining.

Porosity

The percentage of open spaces (voids) in soil or rock that can hold water.

Permeability

How easily water flows through soil or rock, depending on pore size and connectivity.

Infiltration Rate

The speed at which water enters the soil from the surface.

Overland Flow (Surface Runoff)

Water that flows over the land surface when the ground cannot absorb rainfall or snowmelt.

5 Ways Humans Waste Water

1. Leaks in pipes and infrastructure

2. Over-irrigation in agriculture

3. Excessive lawn watering

4. Long showers and baths

5. Unnecessary water use in industry

5 Ways Humans Use Water

1. Drinking and cooking

2. Agriculture (irrigation)

3. Industrial processes

4. Household activities (bathing, cleaning)

5. Recreation (swimming, fishing)

Confined Aquifer

An aquifer trapped between two impermeable layers, where water is under pressure and often requires a well to access.

Unconfined Aquifer

An aquifer where water is directly recharged by surface water and is only partially contained by a less permeable layer below.

Nonpoint Pollution

Pollution that comes from many diffuse sources, often carried by rainfall or snowmelt, making it difficult to trace to a single origin.

Point poulltion

Pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory discharge pipe or sewage treatment plant.

aquifer

An underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater.

overland flow/ surface runoff

Water that flows over the land surface when the ground cannot absorb rainfall or snowmelt.