UNIT 6: WATER CYCLE, SOIL
& GROUND WATER

PACKET 7: WATER CYCLE, SOIL DEVELOPMENT,
POROSITY, PERMEABILITY & CAPILLARY ACTION
"Hi I’m Sponge Bob!
Absorbent and Yellow
and Porous is Me" &
Great job on the Water
Cycle Play!
Bravo!
P.S I’m Ziggy
EARTH SCIENCE
MS. GILL
NOTE PACKET #7
NAME:___________________CLASS:_________ DATE:______
________
Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Vocabulary:
Steam bank
Tributary
Water pollution
Infiltration
water cycle
hydrologic cycle
evaporation
groundwater
condensation
precipitation
accumulation
transpiration
subsurface water
body of water
surface water
surface runoff
source
origin
droplets
moisture
aquifer
Alluvial Fan
Delta
Vegetation
Evapotraspiration
Water budget
Packing
Slope
gradient
rain
river
stream
creek
pond
ocean
puddle
lake
ice
soil
dirt
Porosity
Permeability
Capillary action
Particle size
Sorted
Unsorted
Stream discharge
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
The Water Cycle & Groundwater
HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
condensation
precipitation
transpiration
runoff
infiltration
zone of aeration
Water table
zone of saturation
evaporation
Stream, spring,
lake, or ocean
Groundwater
flow
I.
WATER CYCLE – __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
II.
Water circulates continually between the Earth and the Atmosphere. Water from the oceans,
rivers, soil and vegetation EVAPORTATES into the air. Air rises, cools, and CONDENSES to form
clouds. As the cloud droplets grow in size (coalesce) eventually they get heavy enough and fall back
to the ground as PRECIPITATION. Some of the water does not seep into the ground but rather
becomes RUNOFF, and flows into streams and is carried to the sea. The rest of the water
INFILTRATES into the ground to become part of the groundwater or it is absorbed by plants.
i. EVAPORATION – phase change of water from liquid to gas – energy is absorbed
ii. PRECIPITATION – water falling to the ground due to gravity (snow, rain, sleet, hail)
iii. CONDENSATION – gas to liquid – energy is released (forms clouds)
iv. RUNOFF – water flowing over the Earth’s surface (think temporary streams during heavy rain)
v. VEGETATION – plants
vi. INFILTRATION – process of water being absorbed into the soil (water seeps into the ground
and is added to the water table.
vii. TRANSPIRATION – process of water getting into the air from plants. Moisture is evaporated
off the surface of leaves and vegetation.
viii. EVAPOTRANSPORATION:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
III.
A.
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
GROUNDWATER
Movement of water in the Ground:
When precipitation hits the ground it will either infiltrate earth’s surface, run off, or evaporate.
Water enters the ground through the process known as INFILTRATION.
Infiltration can occur if the surface is permeable and unsaturated, and if the slope of the land is gentle.
The rate of infiltration is determined by the porosity and permeability of the soil.
-Groundwater: _____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
-Zone of Saturation: lower level of soil, spaces between grains are filled with water
-Zone of Aeration: upper level of soil, spaces between grains are filled with air
-Water Table: Interface between zone of aeration and zone of saturation.
Porosity of Soil
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Porosity:_________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Porosity depends on particle shape and how well they are sorted.
It also depends on how tightly packed particles are.
PACKING Loosely packed materials have more pore space than well-packed materials
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Factors that affect Porosity:
1. Particle Shape
2. Particle Sorting
3. Packing of Particles
PARTICLE SIZE DOES NOT AFFECT POROSITY!!!!!
Particle Shape
As the level of packing
______________,
the porosity
_______________.
This is a
_______________
relationship.
Porosity
Packing of Soil Particles
Loosely packed particles have higher porosity.
packing
As particles become
better sorted,
the porosity
_______________.
This is a
_______________
relationship.
Porosity
Particle Sorting
Well sorted particles have higher porosity
Particle Sorted
Particle Size Does not affect Porosity
As particle size
______________,
the porosity
_______________.
This is a
_______________
relationship
Porosity
As particle shape gets
______________,
the porosity
_______________.
This is a
_______________
relationship.
Porosity
Particle Shape of the Grains in the soil
-Angular particles have lower porosity
-Rounder particle have higher porosity
Particle Size
Permeability of Soil
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Water enters the ground through the process known as INFILTRATION.
Water can only enter the ground if the ground is PERMEABLE.
As permeability ____________________,
amount of infiltration__________________.
This is a _______________ relationship.
Infiltration
Permeablity:________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
The more open and interconnected the spaces are between the particles the greater the permeability rate.
Permeability
As permeability ____________________,
the amount of runoff _________________.
This is a _______________ relationship.
Runoff
Impermeable soil refers to soil that water CAN NOT Infiltrate (seep through). If the ground is
IMPERMEABLE the water will become RUNOFF.
Runoff:____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Runoff refers to the water that is not evaporated, and that does not soak into the ground. It
is the water we find in streams.
Permeability
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
B. Factors affecting the Permeability of Soil:
i. Particle Size of the grains in the soil
ii. Saturation level of the ground
iii. Slope or Gradient of the ground
iv. Vegetation growing on the soil
As particle size
______________,
the permeability
_______________.
This is a
_______________
relationship.
Permeability
Particle Size: _________________________
_____________________________________
List particle size classifications in increasing
order:
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
Particle Size
Permeability
Slope or Gradient of the Ground
Slope:________________________________
_____________________________________
If the ground is relatively flat or has a gentle
slope then water will likely infiltrate. If the
ground is steep then runoff will occur.
As slope
______________,
the permeability
_______________.
This is a
_______________
Slope of Land
relationship.
Saturation Level of the Ground
Soil Capacity: _________________________
_____________________________________
Saturated soil: _________________________
_____________________________________
Unsaturated soil: _______________________
_____________________________________
If you try to add water to
a cup that’s already full it
will run down the sides of
the cup. Likewise if rain
falls on soil that is already
soaked with water the rain
will flow as runoff to the
nearest stream, lake, pond
or ocean. If the ground is
dry and there is space
between the soil particles
for water, then water will
infiltrate and become
groundwater.
Vegetation Growing on the Soil
Vegetation: ____________________________
_____________________________________
Plant roots help create pathways for water to
flow through into the ground.
As slope
______________,
the permeability
_______________.
This is a
_______________
Vegetation
relationship
Permeability
Particle Size of the Grains in the soil
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Capillarity
CAPILLARITY of Soil
Capillarity:_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Capillarity is the ability of water to move upward through soil as it clings to the particles. The greater
the surface area, the greater the capillarity, therefore it always depends on particle size. Smaller
particles have more surface area and therefore more capillary action. Capillarity is why some water is
retained in the intermediate belt in the diagram below called the capillary fringe.
Particle size
In Summary: If the diagrams below represent soils with different particle (grain) sizes.
A
B
C
Porosity
Capillarity
Permeabilit
y
1. Water would pass (permeate) through C the easiest since has the largest particle size. C also has the
largest pore spaces.
2. Sample A would have the greatest capillarity and water retention since it has the smallest particle size and
therefore the most surface area. Water will cling to the surfaces of the particles. Also, water will
have a difficult time traveling down through the sample because the pore spaces are small
3. Sample A, B, & C all have the same porosity. Since each sample is composed of all round particles, the
porosity of each container is the same. Sample A has many small pores, and C has fewer large pores
but the total amount of pore space is equal.
4.
A
B
C
A
B
C
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Practice Questions
1. Which container would have the greatest rate of infiltration?
2. Why would the container with the mixed particle sizes have the least porosity?
3. Which container would have the greatest capillarity?
4. Which column would the water climb up the highest?
5. If the columns are filled with uniform shape & size particles, compare the porosity of each?
Porosity "Absorbent and Yellow and Porous is He"
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
RUNOFF & STREAM DISCHARGE
Runoff: includes all the water that moves over Earth’s surface, and due to gravity run off always moves
downhill. The amount runoff in an area depends on five main factors: amount rain, amount of vegetation, type
of soil, shape of land and how people use the land.
Streams: natural channels which allow water to flow downhill
Discharge: VOLUME OF WATER FLOWING PAST A SPOT IN A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME. In other
words the amount of water. The more discharge the faster the stream.
Most runoff gets into streams and as runoff increases, ____________________________________!
A. Sources of water for streams: ___________________ & _________________
B. In moist climates, streams are fed by _________________ during dry periods.
C. In dry climates, streams lose water to the _____________________.
FLOODING:______________________________________________________
• precipitation rate exceeds infiltration rate
• hurricane- storm surges
• impermeable ground (bedrock, frozen, paved, saturated already)
Discharge
Factors that determine stream discharge:
A. ___________________
• time lag (between max. rainfall and max. stream
discharge)
• takes time for runoff to reach the stream
B. ____________________
 Increased vegetation blocks overland flow and slows
stream response
C. __________________ or _________________ (same)
• The land from which the water comes, that drains
into the stream
• Large drainage basin more discharge
• Small drainage basin less discharge
D._____________________________
Rapid runoff if …..
• ground is paved
• impermeable (bedrock)
• frozen
In Summary: Runoff occurs when
1. rate of precipitation exceeds the ____________________ of the earth’s surface.
2. the pore space is _________________________
3. the slope of the surface is too great to allow _____________to occur.
Runoff ends up feeding local streams and increasing discharge!
Runoff
Water Pollution: Two main types:
___________________ – pollution from a single point of origin; improper sewage systems, industrial waste.
____________________ – pollution from widely spread areas i.e. rainwater that carries pesticides and
fertilizers, runoff from roads and parking lots.
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Unit 6: Water Cycle & Ground Water
Earth Science- Ms. Gill
Note Packet #7
Streams and Rivers:
All of the land that drains into
a particular river or stream is
called a drainage basin or
watershed. _
A tributary is a stream that flows into a larger stream. A drainage basin is the land area from which a river
and it’s tributaries collect water. A divide is the high ground between two drainage basins.
A stream bank is the land area along
side the river or stream.
Deltas and Alluvial Fans
As water moves it carries sediment with it. Anytime moving water slows down, it deposits some of this
sediment. Deposition creates landforms such as alluvial fans and deltas. When a river flows out of a
mountain valley, the water slows and deposits sediments in a fan shaped structure called and alluvial fan.
Horizontal sorting is characteristic of this wide sloping deposit. A river ends when it flows into a still body
of water such as an ocean or lake. There th e water slows downs, also deposition sediment in a horizonatally
sorted pattern. These sediments build up form a delta.
1.
Fan-shaped sediments deposits at the mouth of rivers and called deltas. The Nile, Amazon and
Mississippi rivers have well-developed deltas
2. Alluvial Fans form as the result of sediments being washed down a mountain.
______________________________________ & __________________________________
Flood Plains and Floods
1. Flooded sediments build up on the sides of rivers, forming natural levees. The flood plains beyond
them are the most fertile lands in the world.
2. Occasionally, heavy rains over a short period of time cause flash floods. Flooding can occur very
quickly, creating a great deal of property damage.
Water Pollution: Two main types:
___________________ – pollution from a single point of origin; improper sewage systems, industrial waste.
____________________ – pollution from widely spread areas i.e. rainwater that carries pesticides and
fertilizers, runoff from roads and parking lots.
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