Online Grounwater Lab (1)
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School
Montgomery College *
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Course
106
Subject
Geography
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
Pages
10
Uploaded by SuperFoxMaster274
Name
Online Groundwater Lab
What is groundwater?
Groundwater is water found underground (bet you never would have guessed that!). It can
move underground through cracks and crevices, around rocks and through spaces in soil
par±cles. Groundwater moves VERY slowly. Eventually it will make its way to the surface and
become surface water.
Image from Groundwater.org
The
water table
is where groundwater starts. Water saturates the water table so it is known as
the saturated zone. Above the saturated zone is the unsaturated zone because water does not
saturate that area. The water table can move (raises or lowers) depending on how much
precipita±on the area is receiving. When there is very li²le precipita±on, the water table is
lower. When there is lots of precipita±on, the water table is higher so there is more
groundwater.
Importance of Groundwater
Groundwater supplies the majority of people with drinking water so it is essen±al for our
survival. It also helps recharge lakes, rivers, and streams, which means that it adds water to
them.
Groundwater Contamina±on
Since groundwater is so important for our survival, contamina±on is extremely detrimental. It
can be contaminated by many different pollutants, which can make the groundwater
undrinkable.
Ques±ons to Answer:
Go to the following website:
h²ps://www.groundwater.org/get-informed/groundwater/
Click on Groundwater Contamina±on
Read the informa±on and state three possible sources that can contaminate groundwater.
1. Storage tanks
2. Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste
3. Chemicals and Road Salts
Go to this page:
h²ps://groundwater.org/what-is-groundwater/
Using that informa±on answer the following ques±ons:
What use withdraws the most total groundwater per day? _____irrigra±on
What percentage of people in the U.S. use groundwater as their drinking water source?
About 51% of people in the U.S. use groundwater
Procedure
1. Now go to the following website:
h²ps://authoring.concord.org/sequences/98/ac±vi±es/438/ded46f71-e660-4f71-883b
e6fcc70ff6bf
2. Click on BEGIN ACTIVITY
The Title is GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER
3. Read the informa±on and select STREAM A.
4. Run the model for AT LEAST 6 YEARS. Click the play bu²on (forward arrow) to start the
model.
Answer the Ques±on: Describe the outcome of Experiment 1: Stream A.
How did the groundwater move?
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At the start of the experiment, the ground increased quickly and came
up to the surface quickly. By the ±me it reached the 2-year mark, it was
at a study past. And when it reached the 6-year mark the water level
was the same as the previous 2 years
5. Now select STREAM B. Run the model for AT LEAST 6 YEARS. Click the play bu²on to
start the model.
Answer the Ques±on: Describe the outcome of Experiment 2: Stream B.
How did the groundwater move?
With Stream B the water moved into the stream a lot slower than it did
with Stream A. But they both stayed consistent with the same water
level through the years 2,4 and 6
Answer the Ques±on: What accounts for the difference between Stream A and Stream B?
Stream A and B are different because Stream B had a higher stream and lower level of ground
compared to Stream A which it was the complete opposite
(you do not need to answer the ques±ons in the website, just on this document.)
6. Once you have answered the ques±ons, click next.
7. Read The Water Table and Groundwater Flow
Answer the Ques±on: How could pu³ng wells near a stream affect the flow of water in the
stream?
Pu³ng wells near the flow of water in the stream will cause the water table to be lower and
cause more water to be moved into the groundwater. This will cause more unsaturated zone
8. Click next. Read Vernal Pools.
Answer the Ques±on: What does vernal mean? (you have to look it up)
Vernal means the spring or anything that happens in the spring
Answer the Ques±on: What likely happened to the level of the water table between
spring and summer to the vernal pools in the picture?
During the spring and summer ±me the water table increased
9. Click Next. Read Human Impact on Groundwater.
Now you want to determine the best place to put a well around a stream gaining groundwater
to maintain the water level in the stream.
10. For the first experiment, you will add two wells
near the stream
. Do this by clicking the
Add well
bu²on and then move your cursor to where you want to drill a well. Place the
cursor at the land surface and click to start drilling. Click and hold un±l the well reaches
the proper depth to access the stream.
Look at the graphs. The upper graph (Water Level) shows water level in the stream.
The lower graph (Well Output) shows the water output of the different wells.
11. Run the model for at least 6 years. Click the Play Bu²on to run the first experiment.
Sketch or use Excel or a²ach screenshots to show the two graphs below. (no±ce your Well
Output graph has two lines, one for each of your wells).
Water Level Graph
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Well Output Graph
12. Now remove the wells and do your second experiment by adding wells
far from the
stream.
Click the play bu²on to run this experiment and let it run for at least 6 years.
Sketch or use Excel or a²ach screenshots to show the two graphs below.
Water Level Graph
Well Output Graph
Answer the ques±on:
Where should pumps be placed around a gaining stream
(stream in an area with a high water table) to ensure a good flow of water from
the wells
and
maintain flow in the stream?
Pumps should be placed closer when they are around a gaining stream
13.
Click Next and read What happened to the water?
Answer the ques±on:
Iden±fy elements of this system that contributed to the drying up of the
Santa Cruz River.
One element that contributed to the drying up of the Santa Cruz River was the increase of the
popula±on.
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14. Click Next and
SKIP THE POPULATION GROWTH ACTIVITY
.
15. Click Next
16. Click Start Next Ac±vity (Using Groundwater Wisely)
17. Click Begin Ac±vity
18. Read Recharge Rates
Answer the ques±on:
What types of sediment/rock will allow for the fastest recharge of
aquifers?
Sandstone and limestones
19. Click Next and read Runoff or infiltra±on?
Answer the ques±on:
Similar amounts of precipitation fall in urban and non-urban areas.
Why is a river in an urban area more likely than a non-urban river to flood during heavy
rains and dry up during dry periods?
A river in an urban area is more likely to flood during heavy rains and dry up during dry
periods because urban areas have more roads, sidewalks, and roofs which have lower
porosity.