GSC 103 Study Guide - Final Guide: Induced Seismicity, Hard Water, Aquifer

• School: University of Miami
• Department: Geological Sciences
• Course: GSC 103
• Professor: P E T E R L E E C H

Document Summary

Study guide 18: groundwater: porosity and permeability. Porosity- amount of pore space in a rock. Permeability- ease with which fluids flow through a rock or sediment: aquifers and aquicludes. Aquifers- sediment or rock that holds and transmits water easily (porous and permeable) Aquicludes- sediment or rock that has a low permeability (impermeable: zone of aeration, zone of saturation, water table. Zone of aeration- sediment or rock that has a low permeability (impermeable) Zone of saturation- sediment or rock that has a low permeability (impermeable) In unconfined aquifers, which we concentrate on because they are more likely to be contaminated, water always flows from high points to low points because of gravity: recharge and discharge. Recharge- is where water is added to the aquifer. Discharge- is where water is removed from the aquifer: springs, wells, artesian springs, hot springs. Springs- result of an aquifer being filled to the point that the water overflows onto the land surface.