Groundwater

Front

What is groundwater?

Back

Groundwater is water that is stored beneath the Earth's surface in soil and rock formations, filling the spaces between particles.

Front

What is the water table?

Back

The water table is the upper surface of the zone of saturation, where the soil or rock is fully saturated with water.

Front

What is evaporation?

Back

Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor, usually due to heat from the sun.

Front

What is condensation?

Back

Condensation is the process by which water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds.

Front

What is precipitation?

Back

Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Front

What is runoff?

Back

Runoff is the flow of water, from rain or melting snow, that moves across the ground and returns to bodies of water.

Front

What is capillarity?

Back

Capillarity is the ability of water to move upward against gravity in a material, such as soil or plant roots.

Front

What is the zone of saturation?

Back

The zone of saturation is the area underground where all the spaces between soil and rock particles are filled with water.

Front

What is the zone of aeration?

Back

The zone of aeration is the area above the water table where soil and rock are not fully saturated with water.

Front

What factors affect groundwater recharge?

Back

Groundwater recharge is affected by precipitation, soil permeability, vegetation, and land use.