Groundwater and Energy Resources

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to groundwater resources and energy resources.

Groundwater

The liquid that resides within sediment or rock under the surface of the earth.

Porosity

The total volume of open space in rock and sediment.

Permeability

The degree to which a material allows fluid to pass through it via an interconnected network of pores and cracks.

Aquifer

Sediment or rock that easily transmits water.

Aquitard

Sediment or rock that does not transmit water easily, therefore retarding the motion of water.

Water table

The horizon that separates the unsaturated zone above from the saturated zone below.

Capillary fringe

A thin layer of water that fills pores just above the water table.

Dug well

A hand-dug, wide, and shallow well, usually lined with stone or brick.

Driven well

A slim, simple well made for soft soil, installed by driving a small pipe into the ground.

Drilled well

A deep and powerful well made with heavy-duty equipment to access serious aquifers.

Artesian well

A well where groundwater under pressure rises to the surface without the need for a pump.

Spring

A natural flow of groundwater to the surface, usually in tranquil settings.

Over-pumping

Extracting more groundwater than nature can replenish, leading to water table decline.

Land subsidence

The sinking of land above a depleted aquifer.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful chemicals into groundwater, making it toxic.

Karst landscape

A terrain formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks, often featuring caves, sinkholes, and springs.

Source rock

Dark, organic-rich shale that is the birthplace of hydrocarbons.

Reservoir rock

Porous and permeable rock where hydrocarbons accumulate, acting as a storage area.

Seal rock

An impermeable layer of rock that traps hydrocarbons below, preventing escape.

Oil trap

A combination of geological structures that helps in retaining oil and gas.

Coal formation

Occurs from the burial and transformation of plant material in swampy areas over millions of years.

Nuclear fission

The process of splitting atoms to release heat, used to generate electricity in a nuclear power plant.

Solar energy

Energy harnessed directly from the Sun using solar panels.

Wind energy

Energy generated from wind using turbines.

Hydropower

Energy derived from flowing water, such as rivers or dams.

Geothermal energy

Energy sourced from the Earth's internal heat.

Biomass energy

Energy obtained from organic materials burned or converted into biofuels.