Ground water

Groundwater is water that is found underground in the

cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.
Groundwater is stored in--and moves slowly through--
layers of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers. Aquifers
typically consist of gravel, sand, sandstone, or
fractured rock, like limestone. These materials are
permeable because they have large connected spaces
that allow water to flow through. The speed at which
groundwater flows depends on the size of the spaces
in the soil or rock and how well the spaces are
connected.
 Karst Topography - In an area where the
main type of weathering is dissolution (like
in limestone terrains), the formation of
caves and sinkholes, and their collapse
and coalescence may result in a highly
irregular topography called karst
topography
Karst topography
 The Water Table
Rain that falls on the surface seeps down
through the soil and into a zone called the zone
of aeration or unsaturated zone where most of
the pore spaces are filled with air. As it
penetrates deeper it eventually enters a zone
where all pore spaces and fractures are filled
with water. This zone is called the saturated
zone. The surface below which all openings in
the rock are filled with water (the top of the
saturated zone) is called the water table.
 Caves and Caverns
- If large areas of limestone underground
are dissolved by the action of groundwater these cavities
can become caves or caverns (caves with many
interconnected chambers) once the water table is lowered.
 Sinkholes - If the roof of a cave or cavern
collapses, this results in a sinkhole.
Sinkholes, likes caves, are common in
areas underlain by limestones. For
example, in Florida, which is underlain by
limestones, a new sinkhole forms about
once each year, gobbling up cars and
houses in process.
 Sinkholes
Are most commonly thought
of as physical depressions
or holes in the surface of
the land. Not all sinkholes,
however, are as visible
or dramatic as a home or
roadway falling into the
ground. Many times,
sinkhole activity never
manifests itself on the
surface of the land,
making it harder to detect.
Caves and Caverns
A cave is a large hole. It may be underground,
in the side of a hill or mountain, or under a cliff.
A cave is an underground hollow or
passage that is formed
when water runs through an area with
enough force to
dissolve or wear away rock.
A cavern is a large cave.

Over many years as the water evaporates

and simply drips, it leaves tiny deposits of
calcium carbonate (calcite). These drops
form rock sculptures that look like icicles
called stalactites and stalagmites.
Stalactites hang from the ceiling and
stalagmites form from the ground up.
To remember the difference, stalactites
have a 'c' in the word for 'ceiling' and
stalagmites have a 'g' for 'ground.' If they
come together in the center, they become
columns.
 STALACTITES
Stalactites form when water drips from the ceiling year after year.
Minerals are deposited as the water evaporates
Mineral crystals grow larger over time
Stalagmites
Stalagmites, some of the most
familiar cave formations,
are best known as upward-growing,
massive calcite mounds
deposited from drip water.
Sometimes stalactites and stalagmites grow
together to form columns
COLUMNS
Other ground water features
HOT SPRINGS
GEYSERS
SPRINGS