Understanding Groundwater and Aquifers

What percentage of the Earth's fresh water is stored as groundwater?

• 10%

• 25%

• 20%

• 14%

Which term describes the volume of open spaces within a rock?

• Permeability

• Porosity

• Saturation

• Aeration

What does permeability indicate about a rock?

• The color of the rock

• The age of the rock

• The ease of water flow through the rock

• The mineral content of the rock

Which type of geological formation has high porosity and high permeability?

• Capillary fringe

• Aquitard

• Aquifer

• Aqualude

What is an aquitard?

• A layer that restricts water flow

• A layer that enhances water flow

• A layer with no pore spaces

• A layer with high permeability

How does water primarily enter the groundwater system?

• Condensation

• Transpiration

• Infiltration

• Evaporation

What is the water table?

• The bottom of a river

• The top layer of soil

• The boundary between saturated and unsaturated zones

• The surface of a lake

What is the zone of saturation?

• The area above the water table

• The area where all pore spaces are filled with water

• The area with only air

• The area with no water

What happens to the water table during a dry period?

• It rises

• It disappears

• It remains constant

• It lowers

What is the capillary fringe?

• The top of the water table

• The transition zone above the water table

• The bottom of the aquifer

• The surface of the ground