The water cycle, groundwater and aquifers, and surface water systems from an intro Earth science course.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What are the four main processes of the water cycle?
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Evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, and runoff (or infiltration)- Define evapotranspiration
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The combined loss of water from soil and plants to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration- What is infiltration?
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The process by which water enters soil and subsurface materials from the surface- What is runoff in the water cycle?
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Water that flows over the land surface toward streams, rivers, and lakes- Define the water table
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The upper surface of the zone of saturation, below which all pores are filled with water- What is an aquifer?
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A body of saturated rock or sediment that can store and transmit groundwater in usable quantities- Define porosity
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The percentage of a rock or sediment that consists of pores (void spaces)- Define permeability
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The ability of rock or sediment to transmit water through its pores- What is the difference between a confined and an unconfined aquifer?
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An unconfined aquifer has a water table in direct contact with the atmosphere; a confined aquifer is bounded above by a low-permeability layer (aquitard)- What is hydraulic conductivity?
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A measure of the ease with which water flows through rock or sediment- Define groundwater recharge
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The process by which water from the surface infiltrates downward and replenishes the groundwater system- What is groundwater discharge?
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The process by which groundwater emerges or flows out of the subsurface onto the land surface or into surface water bodies- Define a watershed
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The land area that drains surface water and groundwater into a stream, river, lake, or other water body- What is stream discharge?
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The volume of water flowing through a stream channel per unit time, usually measured in cubic meters per second- What is base flow?
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The portion of stream discharge that comes from groundwater discharge during periods with no rainfall
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