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Water Resources Sec1
Earth's water resources
Term | Definition |
---|---|
surface water | all the bodies of fresh water, ice, and snow, that are found above the ground |
river system | a flowing network of rivers and streams |
Amazon River | the largest river system in the world that drains an area of land about size of Europe |
watershed | the area of land that is drained by a water system |
wet region | a place where the water table may be at Earth’s surface |
desert region | a place where the water table may be hundreds of meters beneath Earth’s surface |
groundwater | exists underground and stored in aquifers |
aquifer | a body or rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater. |
water table | forms the upper boundary of an aquifer |
porosity | volume of rock or sediment that consists of open spaces |
permeability | ability of a rock/sediment where fluids pass through its open spaces |
permeable | gravel allows the flow of water |
impermeable | clay/granite stop the flow of water |
most productive aquifers | sandstone, limestone, or layers of sand and gravel |
recharge zone | area in which water travels downward to become part of an aquifer |
a well | hole that is dug or drilled to reach groundwater |
a reliable source of water | well water that is filtered and purified |
streams | form as water from falling rain and melting snow drains from land forms |
surface water uses | drinking water, to grow crops, power for industries |