Understanding Florida's Aquifers

What is the primary function of an aquifer?

• To generate electricity

• To hold groundwater

• To store oil

• To filter air

What type of rock primarily makes up the Floridan aquifer?

• Basalt

• Granite

• Sandstone

• Limestone

Approximately how many people rely on the Floridan aquifer for potable water?

• 5 million

• 10 million

• 15 million

• 20 million

Why is the Biscayne aquifer particularly vulnerable to pollution?

• It is a shallow aquifer

• It is very deep

• It is located in a desert

• It is made of impermeable rock

What natural process helps recharge aquifers?

• Evaporation

• Precipitation

• Condensation

• Erosion

Which ecosystem plays a crucial role in recharging the Biscayne aquifer?

• The Great Plains

• The Sahara Desert

• The Amazon Rainforest

• The Everglades

What is the term for the upper surface of an aquifer's zone of saturation?

• Water table

• Aquifer cap

• Saturation point

• Permeability layer

What is saltwater intrusion?

• The movement of freshwater into saltwater

• The movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers

• The evaporation of seawater

• The freezing of saltwater

How does climate change affect aquifers?

• It makes aquifers deeper

• It leads to saltwater intrusion

• It causes more rainfall

• It increases the water table

What human activities are contributing to the lowering of the water table?

• Fishing and boating

• Intensive agriculture and development

• Hiking and camping

• Solar and wind energy production