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Aquatics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| hydrologic cycle | The continuous movement of water among the atmosphere, land, and oceans through processes such as evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff; explains how water is stored. |
| aquifer | A subsurface layer of permeable rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater in usable quantities; may be unconfined (connected to the surface water table) or confined (sealed by impermeable layers) |
| unconfined aquifer | An aquifer whose upper boundary is the water table and which directly receives infiltration from the surface; water levels in wells reflect changes in precipitation and recharge. |
| confined aquifer | An aquifer sandwiched between impermeable layers of rock or clay that limits recharge from the surface and can produce artesian pressure when tapped. |
| groundwater recharge | The process by which water from precipitation, rivers, or other sources soaks into the ground and replenishes aquifers; a key factor determining how quickly an aquifer recovers after withdrawal. |
| permeability | A measure of how easily fluids (like water) can move through a material’s pores or fractures; high permeability means water moves readily, low permeability restricts flow. |
| water table | The upper surface of the saturated zone in an unconfined aquifer; the depth at which soil and rock are fully saturated with water. |
| riparian rights | A legal doctrine giving landowners whose property borders a stream, river, or lake the right to reasonable use of that water, subject to the rights of downstream riparian owners. |
| prior appropriation | A water-rights doctrine (often used in western U.S. states) granting usage priority to the first person who puts a water source to beneficial use; “first in time, first in right” during shortages. |
| watershed | The land area that drains surface water to a common outlet (such as a stream, river, or reservoir); an organizing unit for managing water quality, habitat, and flood control. |
| eutrophication | The process by which a water body becomes enriched with nutrients (often from fertilizers or sewage), leading to excessive algal growth, decreased oxygen, and harm to aquatic life. |
| wetland | A land area saturated or covered by water for all or part of the year (includes marshes, swamps, bogs, fens); provides critical habitat, filters pollutants, stores floodwater, and supports biodiversity. |
| contamination plume | A subsurface zone where pollutants (chemicals, petroleum, waste) move away from a source and spread through groundwater or soil, often requiring remediation to protect drinking supplies. |
| hydrologist | A scientist who studies the distribution, movement, and quality of Earth’s water, collects data from watersheds and aquifers, and advises on water-resource management and pollution issues. |
| transpiration | The process by which water vapor is released to the atmosphere from plants’ leaves; together with evaporation, it contributes to atmospheric moisture that can later precipitate. |
Created by:
tbeaver24