Groundwater/Wells, Springs & Geysers

What is Groundwater? What is Ground Water?

Pores and Groundwater Pores: Tiny holes or spaces between rock and soil. Groundwater: Water that collects in pores in soil and sinks into the ground. About 22 percent of Earth’s freshwater supply is stored in groundwater.

                             Figure 2: Permeability

Properties affecting groundwater Different kinds of rocks and soil can hold different amounts of groundwater. Tightly packed holds little water Loosely packed holds a lot of water

The Water Table Upper layer of saturated rock and soil.

What happens with the groundwater? How does the groundwater reach earth surface?

Wells Hole dug below the water table that fills with groundwater.

Springs Natural Flow of groundwater to earth’s surface.

Geysers Geysers: Heated groundwater that erupts onto Earth’s Surface

The End