Groundwater and Geology Terms

Front

Percentage of a material's volume made up of open spaces or voids

Back

Porosity

Front

Ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through it

Back

Permeability

Front

Area underground where all pores in rock or soil are filled with water

Back

Saturated zone

Front

Level at which underground water pressure equals atmospheric pressure

Back

Water table

Front

Body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater

Back

Aquifer

Front

Landscape formed by dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone

Back

Karst

Front

Depressions caused by collapse of surface rock or soil into voids

Back

Sinkholes

Front

Process of dissolving rock or mineral particles in water

Back

Solution

Front

Low area of land between hills or mountains, with a river or stream

Back

Valley

Front

Natural sources of water flowing to the surface from aquifers

Back

Springs