Page 238 Groundwater
on Earth
Water
Science for Schools
This USGS site has information on many aspects of water. It includes
images, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give your
own opinion on water topics. You can explore this site for many topics
covered in Chapter 10. This site also provides links to other water-related
Web sites. Click on Earth’s water to find out about the water cycle,
rain, glaciers, icecaps, surface water, and groundwater.
What
is Groundwater?
Visit this site for a clear description of what groundwater is. Find out more about the hydrologic cycle, wells, aquifers, and other groundwater topics. How much American drinking water is from groundwater?
Groundwater
– Nature’s Hidden Treasure
Go to this site by Environment Canada to learn more about groundwater
movement, quality, and contamination. Click on Groundwater – Always
on the move to find out how groundwater moves through permeable rocks.
How fast can groundwater move through permeable rocks such as sandstones?
Groundwater
Basics: Hydrologic Cycle
At this
site by the Groundwater Foundation you can learn all about the water cycle.
Go to the menu at left and click on kids corner, then scroll down and click
on cool groundwater activity. Follow the steps listed to build an edible aquifer
at home.
Dye
Tracing Home Page
Dye tracing
is a method used to investigate the flow of groundwater in aquifers, particularly
in karst topography. An easily observable dye, sometimes fluorescent, is injected
into the groundwater, and observers note where and when the dye reappears. Dye
tracing is used to locate oil pipeline leaks, leaks in industrial waste landfills,
and often to locate groundwater resources for communities. Why would a community
want to know the location of groundwater resources before it builds a new landfill?
Geology
of Mammoth Cave National Park
Visit this
National Park Service site to learn about the geology of Mammoth Cave. This
cave system of more than 335 miles of mapped passages is cut through limestone
deposited 350 million years ago. This karst topography includes thousands of
sinkholes, places where runoff may quickly enter the limestone of the aquifer.
How can a pond in a sinkhole disappear overnight?
The
Geyser Observation and Study Association
Go to this
site to learn more about geysers worldwide. Scroll down and click on world geyser
areas to find out where in the world there are active geysers. Scroll down to
see images of geysers in Iceland and New Zealand. Why have some of the geysers
in these two countries died?
page
256 Groundwater Protection
Groundwater
Basics: Sources of Contamination
At this
site you can learn about the sources of groundwater contamination, such as underground
storage tanks, septic systems, landfills, and chemicals, including road salt,
fertilizers, and pesticides. Why is air pollution considered to be a potential
source of groundwater contamination?
Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Program
This Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) site deals with the protection of drinking water resources
from oil and gas operations and hazardous wastes. Click on what is the UIC program
to find out why industries such as these are injecting waste materials into
the ground. Why are injection wells a possible source of groundwater contamination?
page
260 Ogallala Aquifer
The
Ogallala Aquifer
Visit this
site by the Red River Authority of Texas to learn more about the geologic history
of the Ogallala Aquifer. Why is there a concern about the recharge of this aquifer?
Ogallala
Aquifer
At this
site by the North Plains Groundwater District, Texas, you can learn more about
the geology, stratigraphy, hydrology, and history of the Ogallala Aquifer. The
site includes data on the amount of water extracted from the aquifer over time,
and its recharge rate. Scientists are concerned because the aquifer is not being
recharged as quickly as water is being pumped out of it. By how much is the
total volume of the Ogallala Aquifer declining per year?
The
Ogallala Aquifer
Go to this
site by the High Plains Underground Water District for an overview of the production
and geology of the Ogallala Aquifer. Scroll down to read about this aquifer.
How much of the water pumped from the aquifer is used for the irrigation of
crops?
