other stuff to know about geology

Watershed

The land area that supplies water to a river system.

Recharge

the replenishment of an aquifer by the absorption of water.

Zone of aeration

upper soil layers that hold both air and water

Potentionmetric Surface (pressure surface)

represents the imaginary line to which groundwater will rise in a well

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant

Percolation

The downward movement of water through soil and rock due to gravity.

Subsidence

A depression of the land surface as a result of groundwater being pumped. Cracks and fissures can appear in the land. Subsidence is virtually an irreversible process.

Riparian buffers

Trees, shrubs, or grasses planted next to waterways, filter runoff, improve water quality, protect soil from erosion, and provide wildlife habitat.

dissolved oxygen

the amount of oxygen in the water

Stream power

Faster, deeper water moving down steeper hills has more "power" to move sediment of larger size

groundwater divide

The underground area from which groundwater drains. These basins could be separated by geologic or hydrologic boundaries.

Discharge

the quantity of water in a stream that passes a given point in a period of time

zone of saturation

zone where all open spaces in sediment and rock are completely filled with water

artesian spring/well

pressurized flow of water from a confined aquifer

base flow filtration

hydrograph separation techniques that use mathematical filters to separate a stream's total flow into its baseflow

base-level

The lowest point to which a stream can erode

Impervious surfaces

surfaces that do not let water pass through it

Hjulstrom's diagram

graphs the relationship between particle size and energy for erosion, transportation, and deposition

stream piracy/capture

a natural geomorphic process where an actively eroding stream diverts the water of a neighboring stream with a higher drainage basin through headward erosion or differential erosion.

Water table

the level below which the ground is saturated with water.

Cone of depression

an area lacking groundwater due to rapid withdrawal by a well

saltwater intrusion

an infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells

specific conductivity

Conductivity of a solution per unit volume.

storm drains

These collect water from roof downspouts, drain inlets catch basins and drain tiles surrounding the building foundation.

constructed wetlands

a man-made pond or basin that uses natural processes, such as plants, soil, and microbes, to filter and purify wastewater or stormwater runoff

Rip Rap

human-placed, loose, large stones or other materials used to protect surfaces like shorelines and slopes from erosion and scouring by water.

Rock weirs

a low, dam-like structure made of loose rocks built across a stream to control water flow, prevent soil erosion, and create aquatic habitats

storm water retention Basins

Catch and slowly release runoff in urban and suburban areas