Groundwater

2. Groundwater • The zone of saturation is the depth below Earth’s surface at which groundwater completely fills all the pores of a material. • The water table is the upper boundary of the zone of saturation. • The depth of the water table varies depending on local conditions. • The topography of the water table follows the topography of the land above it.

3. Groundwater

4. Aquifers

5. Fractured Rock Aquifers • In metamorphic and/or igneous rocks, there are rarely confined aquifers. • Instead, water is contained within the rock itself in fractures and pore spaces. • Generally, the fractures decrease as depth increases, due to pressure. • In WNC, more than 50% of the population receives their water from wells drilled into fractured rock aquifers.

7. Evaporation within the Water Cycle • Evaporation is what drives the surface-to-atmosphere connection of the water cycle

8. Evaporation • Water vapor in the atmosphere • 90% comes from surface waters • 10% from transpiration from plants. • Heat energy is required to change water in its liquid form to its gaseous form. • If you add heat to a material, does its temperature always rise?

9. Evaporation • Water in its gaseous form is a heat “carrier.” • Once condensation occurs, the heat energy is released back into the atmosphere. • This is called latent heat, and serves to warm the atmosphere.

10. Heating Curve