Groundwater Lecture Summary 17

This flashcard set contains key vocabulary terms related to groundwater and its significance in geology.

Groundwater

Water in the pore spaces of soil and fractures in bedrock.

Recharge

Process of water being added to an aquifer.

Porosity

The percentage of pore (open) spaces in a rock or sediment that determines how much groundwater can be stored.

Permeability

The ability of a material to transmit a fluid, related to the connectivity between pores.

Aquitard

An impermeable layer that decreases water movement; for example, clay or unfractured bedrock.

Aquifer

Permeable rock strata or sediment that transmits groundwater freely.

Cone of Depression

A conical-shaped lowering of the water table surrounding a well.

Drawdown

The lowering of the water table surrounding a well as water is withdrawn.

Artesian Well

A well in which water rises due to pressure within an aquifer.

Hot Springs

Springs with water that is significantly warmer than the mean annual air temperature of the locality.