Groundwater
• Water located below
the Earth’s Surface
• Two zones
– Zone of Aeration
– Zone of Saturation
• Water table is the
boundary where the
two zones meet
• Recharge zone is the
ground surface area
where water enters
the aquifer
http://www.groundwater.water.ca.gov/images/recharge.gif
Aquifer
http://water.tamu.edu/images/aquifer.jpg
•A rock layer that stores and allows the flow
of groundwater.
Porosity
• Percentage of open
space between
individual rock
particles
• Influenced by the
size of the particles
http://earthnet-geonet.ca/images/glossary/porosity.jpg
Permeability
• Rocks ability to let
water pass through
• Larger particles
produce less friction
http://www.mhhe.com/earthsci/geology/mcconnell/images/anim_permeability.gif
Percolation
• Water passing
through the spaces
in the soil due to
gravitational forces
http://www.uvm.edu/giee/AV/EDU/ONLINE/M_Hydro/GIFS/Perc_process.GIF