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Groundwater

Hydrogeology
Hydrogeology (hydro- meaning water,
and -geology meaning the study of
the Earth)

It is the area of geology that deals with the


distribution and movement
of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the
Earth's crust (commonly in aquifers).
The hydrologic cycle begins with
the evaporation of water from
the surface of the ocean. As
moist air is lifted, it cools
and water vapor condenses to
form clouds. Moisture is
transported around the globe
until it returns to the surface as
precipitation.
Precipitation
and
infiltration
contribute to
groundwater, which is stored in
underground reservoirs until it
surfaces as a spring or is drawn
from a well.
Infiltration:

process of water
moving into the
soil/ground

to penetrate,
enter or gain
access
I. Water Beneath the Surface
Groundwater: underground water
that fills almost all of the
pores/voids in rocks and
sediment
Aquifer: a body of rock that can store
water and also let water flow through
Think of an AQUIFER as a
large, horizontal sponge that
absorbs and transports water
along its length
An aquifer is an underground layer of water-
bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or
unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt)
from which groundwater can be extracted using a
water well.

It is porous & permeable to the extent of


maintaining a steady supply of sufficient amount
of water to the wells or springs.
Occurrence of Groundwater in different terrains

Weathered pore spaces & voids/openings

Hard and Stratified rocks cracks & fractures


Aquifer types

Aquifer
Aquiclude
Aquitard
Aquifuge
Unconfined aquifer
Confined aquifer( artesian)
Perched
Aquifer : A saturated, permeable, geologic unit / formation or
group of formations that can yield a significant amount ( sufficient
quantity) of groundwater to be called as a source of supply.

Aquiclude :A saturated geologic unit which yields inappreciable


quantity of water to drain & through which there is inappreciable
movement of water.

Aquitard : A saturated, permeable, geologic unit / formation or


group of formation which yield water in appreciable quantity to
drain completely to an aquifer but through which appreciable
leakage of water is possible.

Aquifuge : A formation that does not store any water.


Unconfined
Unconfined aquifer
Ground water possesses a free surface
open to the atmosphere

Upper surface of the zone of saturation is


called water table
Confined
Confined aquifer( artesian)
It is one in which ground water is confined
under pressure by overlying & underlying
aquitard or aquicludes.

Water level in wells rises above the top of


the aquifer
Potentiometric Surface or Piezometric surface
Represents the areal variation of the head of an aquifer
ad
City water systems can be considered to be artificial artesian systems.
Parameters
Porosity

Permeability

Specific yield & retention

Transmissibility and Storage


Coefficient
porosity
Porosity n is the ratio of the voids to the total volume
of an unconsolidated or consolidated material

percentage of open spaces in a rock or


sediment
Porosity:
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
POROSITY:

(a) SORTING: amount of


uniformity in particle size

HIGH pore space LOW pore space


(b) SHAPE: rounder particles =
more porous

(c) PACKING: loosely packed =


more porous
Permeability: It is the property by virtue of which
the rock/ geological formation allows water to
travel through its pore spaces or other openings
2. Permeability: how freely water
flows through open spaces in a
rock (the pores must be connected)

Impermeable water can NOT flow through


It is the measure of the quantity of water passing
through a unit cross section in a unit time & 100 %
hydraulic gradient.
Can something be porous but
impermeable?
The cork end is red
because the grape
juice went into it.
Does this mean it is
porous?

If you turn the


bottle upside down
will it leak? Is the
cork permeable?
A permeable rock is always porous but a porous rock may not
always be permeable

Porosity & permeability depend on width of fracture,


frequency, distribution & orientation .
Fine grain sediments have the tendency to hold up
water against the force of gravity

Coarse grained well sorted sediments yield water


readily

In case of consolidated rocks, dimensions of


secondary openings, joints, cavities largely control
the specific yield.

Specific retention depends on total interstitial


surface in the rock.
B. Zones of Groundwater
1. Zone of Saturation: the layer of
ground where all the pores are filled
with water.
2. Water Table: upper surface of
the zone of saturation
3. Zone of Aeration: upper region,
where water is both in the soil and
seeping down to the water table.
Zone of
Aeration

Capillary Action:
ability of water to
rise UP the soil.

particle size =
Smaller

greater capillarity
Capillary Fringe: middle layer,
between the water table and the
zone of aeration.
C. MOVEMENT OF
GROUNDWATER
Depends on:
1. Permeability of the aquifer
permeability = velocity
2. Gradient of the water table
Gradient = steepness of the
slope
gradient = velocity
II. Wells and Springs
Water Table: upper layer of rocks
with all pores filled with water.
A. Ordinary Well: A hole dug below
the water table which fills up
with water.
Cone of Depression: lowered area of
the water table due to pumping
B. Artesian Wells: water flows
freely with no pumping

Underground water
under pressure
(between two
impermeable rock
layers) rises to the
surface
Water is naturally
filtered as it passes
through porous rock
and seeps to surface
III. Groundwater and
Chemical Weathering

A. Caverns: rocks rich in calcite


(limestone) slowly dissolved by
carbonic acid.
Hard water = many dissolved
minerals (Ca, Mg, Fe)
Soft water = few dissolved
minerals
Luray Caverns, VA
Formation of a Cave
1. Stalactites: water with
dissolved calcite runs from a
caves ceiling and solidifies
downward.
2. Stalagmites: calcite rich water
drips on the caves floor and
builds upward.
If the two
connect,
then it
forms a
column.
3. Natural Bridge:
when the roof of
a cavern
collapses in
several places
leaving an arch-
shaped rock.
B. KARST TOPOGRAPHY
regions where chemical weathering
by groundwater is now visible at the
surface

regions where it is humid and there


are limestone formations near the
surface

Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,


Indiana, and Florida have Karst
Topography
1. Sinkholes (the main feature
of Karst Topography)
How do sinkholes form?
Rain seeps through soil and absorbs
carbon dioxide and reacts with decaying
vegetation
Acidic water is created
Water moves through spaces and cracks
underground
Limestone is slowly dissolved, creating
network of cavities and voids
Pores and cracks enlarge
Land surface above collapses or sinks
2. Streams that disappear in
the ground

Like Lewis Creek in Staunton


3. Caverns and Caves

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