Grotzinger Jordan

Understanding Earth
Sixth Edition

Chapter 17:
THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
AND GROUNDWATER
2011 by W. H. Freeman and Company

Chapter 17

The Hydrologic
Cycle and
Groundwater

About the Hydrologic Cycle

Hydrology is the study of movements
and characteristics of groundwater.
The hydrologic cycle has a profound
effect upon climate prediction.
Water is vital so we must understand
where to find water and how water
supplies cycle through the Earth.

Lecture Outline
1. The geologic cycling of water
2. Hydrology and climate
3. The hydrology of groundwater
4. Erosion by groundwater
5. Water quality
6. Water deep in the crust

1. The Geologic Cycling of Water

Flows into a reservoir include inflows

and outflows, and inflow equals
outflow.
Reservoirs include all the places that
water is stored in and on the Earth.

1. The Geologic Cycling of Water

1. The Geologic Cycling of Water

The hydrologic cycle

precipitation
infiltration and runoff
evaporation, transpiration,
and sublimation
groundwater flow

1. The Geologic Cycling of Water

The hydrologic cycle

Thought questions for this chapter

If global warming caused evaporation from the oceans to
increase greatly, how would the hydrologic cycle of today
be altered?

2. Hydrology and Climate

Key climatic factors

relative humidity
rainfall
landscape

2. Hydrology and Climate

Key tectonic factors

ocean-land relationships
mountain rain shadows

2. Hydrology and Climate:

The Rain Shadow Effect

2. Hydrology and Climate

The runoff-precipitation relationship

stronger in local areas
less strong in regional areas

2. Hydrology and Climate

2. Hydrology and Climate

2. Hydrology and Climate

Surface storage of water runoff

lakes and reservoirs
wetlands and swamps

The
Hydrology
of Runoff:
Similarity
of a
Dammed
Lake and
a Natural
Lake

The
Hydrology
of Runoff:
Similarity
of a
Dammed
Lake and
a Natural
Lake

Thought questions for this chapter

How might the hydrologic cycle have been different 18,000
years ago, at the Wisconsin glacial maximum, when much
of North America, Europe, and Asia were covered with
ice?

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Groundwater flow through soil

and rock
porosity and permeability
groundwater table

Groundwater:
Porosity and
the Amount
of Open Space
in Various
Materials

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Above and below the groundwater

table
unsaturated (vadose) zone
saturated (phreatic) zone

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Inflow and outflow of groundwater

recharge (influent streams)
discharge (effluent streams)

Groundwater:
Effluent Water
Headed for a
Stream

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater:

Dynamics of the Groundwater Table

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Types of aquifers
unconfined has an aquiclude
below
confined has aquiclude
above and below

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Characteristics of some confined

aquifers
artesian (flowing) wells
artesian flow (under pressure)

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Complex geological environments

perched water tables
unpredictable flow conditions

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Balancing recharge and discharge

balance = stable water table
excess recharge = rising water
table
excess discharge = falling
water table

Groundwater:
Excess
Discharge
and the
Cone of
Depression

Groundwater:
Excess
Discharge
and the
Movement
of Salt
Water

Groundwater:
Excess
Discharge
and the
Movement
of Salt Water

3. The Hydrology of Groundwater

Speed of groundwater flows

hydraulic gradient
Darcys law
Q = A ( K h / l)

Groundwater: Darcys Law

Water resources from major aquifers:

Some major U.S. aquifers

U.S. Great Plains and
midwestern states
Ogallala aquifer

Water Resources: U.S. Withdrawal

Water
Resources:
The Great
Ogallala
Aquifer
only a few
years left

Thought questions for this chapter

If you lived near the seashore and started to notice that
your well water had a slightly salty taste, how would you
explain the change in water quality?
Why would you recommend against extensive
development and urbanization of the recharge area of an
aquifer that serves your community?
Your new house is built on soil-covered granitic bedrock.
Although you think that prospects for drilling a successful
water well are poor, a well driller who is familiar with the
area says he has drilled many good water wells in this
granite. What arguments might each offer to convince the
other?

4. Erosion by Groundwater

Features of groundwater erosion

caves and caverns
stalactites and stalagmites
karst features (karst topography)
sinkholes

4. Erosion by Groundwater

Characteristics of areas with karst

high rainfall and abundant
vegetation
limestone bedrock with joints
significant hydraulic gradient

4. Erosion by Groundwater: Karst

Erosion by Groundwater: Carlsbad

Caverns, New Mexico

Erosion by Groundwater: Sinkhole

in Winter Park, Florida

Thought questions for this chapter

You are exploring a cave and notice a small stream
flowing on the cave floor. Where could the water be
coming from?

5. Water Quality

Contamination of the water supply

lead pollution
radioactive wastes
microorganisms in water
other chemical contaminants

5. Water Quality: Human Contamination

5. Water Quality

Reversing contamination
easier if recharge rate is fast
usually costly and very slow
decontamination after pumping
in-ground water treatments

5. Water Quality

Dissolved materials in drinking water

potable water has 150 ppm
distilled water has < 1 ppm
some elements have their limits
example: arsenic, 0.05 ppm

Thought questions for this chapter

If you discovered that radioactive waste had seeped into
groundwater from a nuclear processing plant, what kind
of information would you need to predict how long it
would take for the radioactivity to appear in well water 10
km from the plant?
Why should communities ensure that septic tanks are
maintained in good condition?
Why are more and more communities in cold climates
restricting the use of salt to melt snow and ice on
highways?

6. Deep Water in the Crust

Types of deep crustal groundwater

meteoric water that seeps in
magmatic water
hydrothermal (hot spring) water

Water Deep
in the Crust:
The Origin
of Hot
Springs
and Geysers

Mammoth Hot Springs,

Yellowstone National Park

6. Deep Water in the Crust

Ancient microorganisms in deep

aquifers
active colonies of microbes that
may have been there for
millions of years are found in
deep crustal groundwater
they live by dissolving minerals

Thought questions for this chapter

What geologic processes would you infer are taking place
below the surface at Yellowstone National Park, which has
many hot springs and geysers?

Key terms and concepts

Aquiclude
Aquifer
Artesian flow
Darcys law
Discharge
Drought
Groundwater
Groundwater table
Hydraulic gradient
Hydrologic cycle
Hydrology
Hydrothermal water
Infiltration
Karst topography
Meteoric water

Key terms and concepts

Permeability
Potable
Precipitation
Rain shadow
Recharge
Relative humidity
Runoff
Saturated zone
Sinkhole
Unsaturated zone