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| A permeable body of rock or regolith that both stores and transports groundwater. |
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artesian formation [image] |
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| Of, being, or concerning an aquifer in which water rises to the surface due to pressure from overlying water. |
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evapotranspiration [image] |
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Definition
| All methods of water moving from a liquid to water vapor in nature. Includes both evaporation and transpiration. |
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| A hot spring that intermittently erupts a spray of steam and hot water. Caused by the heating of ground water within a confined opening in hot rock. |
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| The hydrosphere is often called the "water sphere" as it includes all the earth's water found in streams, lakes, the soil, groundwater, and in the air. |
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| A rock, that will not allow fluids to migrate through it, is impermeable. Most shales are impermeable. Impermeable rock can form a barrier or seal preventing the escape of petroleum. |
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Definition
| Permeability is the degree to which a rock will allow the passage of fluids. The permeability of a rock is dependent upon how well the pore spaces are connected. If a rock is not permeable, oil or water cannot pass through it. |
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Definition
| Porosity is the percentage of a rock's total volume that is pore space. Good porosity in a rock indicates a large amount of pore space and an ability to hold large amounts of fluid. |
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Definition
| Water added to an aquifer or other water body. An aquifer is recharged by precipitation in an area where the aquifer has a porous connection to the surface. |
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| an amount, quantity, etc., greater than needed. |
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| an act of using or employing; use. |
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| a lack or shortage; deficiency. |
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Definition
| A summation of inputs, outputs, and net changes to a particular water resource system over a fixed period. (Also, water balance model). |
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| The movement of water between the atmosphere, ground and surface water bodies through the processes of evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, percolation, transpiration and runoff. Also known as the "hydrologic cycle". |
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Definition
| A level beneath the Earth's surface, below which all pore spaces are filled with water and above which the pore spaces are filled with air. The top of the zone of saturation in a subsurface rock, soil or sediment unit. |
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