Chapter 17, Problem 1GST

(a)

To determine

To describe: The possible path the water molecule follows through the hydrological cycle, if the water is pumped from the ground to irrigate a farm field.

Answer to Problem 1GST

The water used to irrigate a farm field will be taken up by plants and transpired or evaporated to the atmosphere. Later, it runs off along the surface to a nearby stream or is infiltrated back into the ground.

Explanation of Solution

The continuous movement of water that takes place above and below the Earth’s surface is described as a cyclical format known as the hydrologic cycle. It includes various processes such as evapo-transpiration, condensation, precipitation, run-off, infiltration, and percolation.

Evapo-transpiration is a combined process of evaporation and transpiration, which involves the movement of water from waterbodies and land surfaces into the atmosphere. It involves the conversion water from liquid to vapor state. The conversion of water vapor in air into liquid water is termed as condensation. Cloud formation is associate with the condensation processes. The release of water from clouds in the form of rain or snow is termed as precipitation.

The flow of water over the land surface is termed as run-off. Infiltration and percolation are the two processes that are used to define the transmission of water through soil. The former denotes the downward movement of water into the soil or rock surface and the latter denotes the passage of water through soil and porous or fractured rock.

Water that is used for irrigational activities will be either transpired or evaporated into the atmosphere. Otherwise, it runs off along the surface to a nearby stream or is infiltrated into the ground.

(b)

To determine

To describe: The possible path that the water molecule follows through the hydrological cycle, if heavy rainfall occurs over a long period.

Answer to Problem 1GST

A long period of heavy rainfall results in the infiltration and recharge of aquifers and flow underground, to nearby gaining streams. As the ground is saturated, the rainfall flows on the surface as runoff, to nearby streams.

Explanation of Solution

The continuous movement of water that takes place above and below the Earth’s surface is described as a cyclical format known as the hydrologic cycle. It includes various processes such as evapo-transpiration, condensation, precipitation, run-off, infiltration, and percolation.

Evapo-transpiration is a combined process of evaporation and transpiration, which involves the movement of water from waterbodies and land surfaces into the atmosphere. It involves the conversion of its state from liquid to vapor. The conversion of water vapor in air into liquid water is termed as condensation. Cloud formation is associated with the condensation processes. The release of water from clouds in the form of rain or snow is termed as precipitation.

The flow of water over the land surface is termed as run-off. Infiltration and percolation are the two processes that are used to define the transmission of water through soil. The former denotes the downward movement of water into the soil or rock surface and the latter denotes the passage of water through soil and porous or fractured rock.

The water that falls on the ground as a result of a long period of heavy rainfall will initially infiltrate into the ground and recharge the aquifers. Later, it may flow beneath the surface, to nearby gaining streams. As the ground is saturated with water, the rainfall will then flow along the surface of the Earth as run-off and joins adjacent streams.

(c)

To determine

To describe: The possible path that the water molecule follows through the hydrological cycle, if the water table in the vicinity of the molecule develops a steep cone of depression (as a result of heavy pumping from a nearby well).

Answer to Problem 1GST

Heavy pumping from a nearby well results in a very rapid flow of groundwater into the well, through a steep cone of depression.

Explanation of Solution

The continuous movement of water that takes place above and below the Earth’s surface is described as a cyclical format known as the hydrologic cycle. It includes various processes such as evapo-transpiration, condensation, precipitation, run-off, infiltration, and percolation.

Evapo-transpiration is a combined process of evaporation and transpiration which involves the movement of water from waterbodies and land surfaces into the atmosphere. It involves the conversion of its state from liquid to vapor. The conversion of water vapor in air into liquid water is termed as condensation. Cloud formation is associated with the condensation processes. The release of water from clouds in the form of rain or snow is termed as precipitation.

The flow of water over the land surface is termed as runoff. Infiltration and percolation are the two processes that are used to define the transmission of water through soil. The former denotes the downward movement of water into the soil or rock surface and the latter denotes the passage of water through soil and porous or fractured rock.

The conical-shaped depression in the water table formed as a result of the withdrawal of a high amount of water from a nearby well is termed as “cone of depression”. Heavy pumping in an area results in the loss of water in the surrounding area and decline in the water table. It results in the formation of a very wide and steep cone of depression.