Water Above and Below Ground

Sources and Significance

Water Above Ground1. Lakes, ponds and

wetlands2. Streams and rivers3. Ground water4. Glaciers5. Drainage basins

Water Distribution

Only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water (no salt).

2/3 of this water is frozen in ice sheets.

Therefore only 1% of the fresh water on Earth is available.

Ground water...Precipitation that falls on land and sinks out of sight.

Sinks through pores in rocks until it reaches bedrock where it pools.

Drilling to these pools make wells.

Groundwater Systemshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTdHygIC

Vaw

Review of Groundwater SystemsUnderground water:

Most of Earth’s fresh water that is not locked up in glaciers or trapped as vapour in the atmosphere can be found underneath the ground

There is more fresh water underground that there is in all the lakes and rivers combined

Underground water flows through a series of canals or streams and only comes to the surface as springs

Humans have tapped into underground water supplies for thousands of years by digging wells

Zone of saturation:Beneath the surface of the ground, the soil

contains a permeable layer with numerous pores

When water is absorbed into the ground, it fills these pores much the same way a sponge is filled

This layer of porous soil is referred to as the zone of saturation when all the pores are filled

Water table: The top of the zone of saturation The depth changes depending on how full the

zone of saturation isWhen humans dig wells, they tap into the zone

of saturationIf the zone dries up, the water table lowers and

may become lower than the bottom of the well

Aquifer:Water moves through the zone of saturation

through a series of channels or canals, continuing toward the lowest point

These channels and canals are known as aquifers

Wells and Springs:Water in aquifers is brought to the surface

through springs or wellsWells are made by drilling a hole through the

soil and rock to a point below the water table. Water is then pumped up to the surface

Springs are made when groundwater flows naturally out onto the surface. This usually happens on hillsides or gullies where the water table is exposed by a dip in the land

Hot springs are groundwater that has been heated by rocks that come in contact with molten material under Earth’s surface