GS106 

Student Learning Outcomes

GROUNDWATER

 

1.  Be able to describe the three different types of ground water (hygroscopic, capillary and gravitational) with regards to where they are found in the ground water system and what controls where they are found.

 

2.  What is meant by water being a polar molecule and how does that affect the ground water system (related to objective 1)

 

3.  Be able to describe and explain the different parts of the ground water system.  Include the following in your understanding.

            Zone of saturation, Zone of aeration, Water Table, Aquifer, Aquitard (aquiclude), Perched water

               Table and Capillary fringe (also know which of these represent the aquifer)

 

4.  Describe the relationship between streams and the groundwater.

                        Define: influent stream, effluent stream

 

5.   Understand the relationship and differences between porosity and permeability and describe the relative porosity and permeability in clay, silt, sand, and gravel.

 

6.  Define and give an example of materials that form

            a.  aquitards

            b.  aquifers

 

7.  Understand the difference between springs, wells (artesian and manmade), hot springs and geysers.

 

8.  Understand how thermal geysers function and describe the geologic environment they exist in.

 

9.  Explain how an artesian well functions.

 

10.  Define: cone of depression, drawdown, recharge

 

11.   Describe and discuss the following problems associated with groundwater withdrawal:

            a.  subsidence                                            c.  groundwater contamination

            b.  saltwater intrusion (contamination)         d.  mining fossil water (nonrenewable resource)

 

12    Discuss the development of a typical limestone cave and discuss the development of:  stalactites, stalagmites, and columns

 

13    Understand the "safe yield" concept and the consequences when it is ignored.

                         

14.  Be able to discuss the ease at which ground water can be contaminated and the difficulty of cleaning it up. 

 

15.  List several factors that will control the recharge rate of a water table.