Deck 11: The Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater

Question 1

-The diagram above represents a cross section through a coastal mountain range. Which of the following statements is correct?

A) Region A would receive the most precipitation.
B) Region B would receive the most precipitation.
C) Region C would receive the most precipitation.
D) Regions A, B, and C would receive about the same amount of precipitation.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Most rain falls on the windward (upwind) side of a mountain range.
B) Most rain falls on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range.
C) Rain falls in approximately equal amounts on the windward (upwind) and the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

How does the total amount of groundwater on Earth compare to the total amount of water residing in lakes and rivers combined?

A) The total amount of groundwater is less than half that of rivers and lakes.
B) The total amount of groundwater is about twice that of rivers and lakes.
C) The total amount of groundwater is 10 times that of rivers and lakes.
D) The total amount of groundwater is more than 100 times that of rivers and lakes.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which process in the water cycle is the direct means of input to the groundwater reservoir?

A) precipitation
B) evaporation
C) infiltration
D) surface runoff

Question 5

Which of the formulas below correctly arranges the inputs and outputs of the water cycle?

A) precipitation = evaporation + runoff + infiltration
B) precipitation + runoff = evaporation + infiltration
C) evaporation = precipitation + runoff + infiltration
D) evaporation + runoff = precipitation + infiltration

Question 6

Over timescales of centuries to millennia the total amount of water in the water cycle varies greatly.

Question 7

-Region A is the __________.

A) discharge zone
B) recharge zone
C) saturated zone
D) unsaturated zone

Question 8

-Region B is the __________.

A) discharge zone
B) recharge zone
C) saturated zone
D) unsaturated zone

Question 9

Reference: Ref 11-2
The lowering of the water table near the well is called a(n) __________.

A) aquiclude
B) cone of depression
C) influent zone
D) sinkhole

Question 10

-Based on the geometry of the surface and water table depicted in the cross section above, which of the following statements is true?

A) The stream is gaining water from the groundwater.
B) The stream is losing water to the groundwater.
C) The stream is gaining water from the groundwater on the west side and losing water to the groundwater on the east side.
D) The stream and the groundwater are not connected)

Question 11

The vast majority of the world's usable fresh water occurs in

A) rivers.
B) lakes.
C) groundwater.

Question 12

Which of the following materials has the lowest porosity?

A) unfractured shale
B) gravel
C) sandstone

Question 13

The groundwater table lies at the

A) top of the unsaturated zone.
B) top of the saturated zone.
C) base of the saturated zone.

Question 14

A confined aquifer is ___ by a relatively impermeable layer.

A) underlain
B) overlain
C) underlain and overlain

Question 15

The ___ aquifer in western Texas and easternmost New Mexico is being seriously depleted.

A) Ogallala
B) Marathon
C) Artesian

Question 16

Which of the following materials has the lowest permeability?

A) fractured granite
B) sandstone
C) unfractured shale

Question 17

Adjacent to a pumping well, the water table is

A) depressed.
B) elevated.
C) flat.

Question 18

Porosity and water content generally ___ with increasing depth in the Earth's crust.

A) increase
B) decrease
C) remain the same

Question 19

Complete the following sentence: Good aquifer materials have a ________ porosity and a _______ permeability.

A) high; low
B) high; high
C) low; high
D) low; low

Question 20

Which of the following geologic materials is least likely to form a good aquifer?

A) sand
B) sandstone
C) gravel
D) shale

Question 21

What is the driving force for groundwater flow?

A) Earth's rotation
B) Earth's magnetic field
C) gravity
D) solar energy

Question 22

Which of the following is not a recharge source for groundwater?

A) spring flow
B) rain
C) snow melt
D) lake infiltration

Question 23

Which if the following conditions maximize the rate of groundwater flow in an unconfined aquifer?

A) low permeability, large water table slope angle
B) high permeability, small water table slope angle
C) low permeability, small water table slope angle
D) high permeability, large water table slope angle

Question 24

The water table is typically a level, planar surface.

Question 25

The position of the water table varies over time.

Question 26

Which of the following is a consequence of urbanization?

A) Decreased infiltration
B) Decreased runoff
C) Decreased precipitation
D) Decreased evaporation

Question 27

It is impossible to pump groundwater from the ground faster than it can be replenished by recharge.

Question 28

Injection of wastewater into deep wells is a strategy employed to increase groundwater recharge.

Question 29

Potable groundwater of good quality typically contains ____ parts per million dissolved solids.

A) 1
B) 300
C) 150

Question 30

Shallow groundwater aquifers in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Hanford, Washington, have been contaminated by

A) pesticides.
B) sewage waste.
C) radioactive wastes.

Question 31

What makes groundwater acidic?

A) dissolution of limestone
B) incorporation of atmospheric oxygen
C) interaction with carbon dioxide
D) none of these

Question 32

Which mineral group comprises the major constituent of limestone?

A) silicate minerals
B) carbonate minerals
C) sulfide minerals
D) oxide minerals

Question 33

Which of the geologic features listed are characteristic of karst topography?

A) sinkholes
B) caves
C) disappearing streams
D) all of these

Question 34

Which geologic condition is necessary for the formation of karst topography?

A) limestone near the surface
B) arid climate
C) lack of vegetation
D) abundant surface runoff

Question 35

Stalagmites form on the ceiling of a cave, whereas stalactites form on the floor.

Question 36

As one goes deeper in the Earth's crust, __________.

A) the porosity increases and the concentration of dissolved minerals increases
B) the porosity increases and the concentration of dissolved minerals decreases
C) the porosity decreases and the concentration of dissolved minerals increases
D) the porosity decreases and the concentration of dissolved minerals decreases

Question 37

Hydrothermal waters originate from

A) mantle water.
B) meteoric (surface) water.
C) magmatic fluids.

Question 38

From where does most hydrothermal water originate in continental hot springs?

A) water produced during diagenesis
B) water produced during metamorphism
C) release of magmatic water
D) infiltration of surface water

Question 39

Complete the following sentence: In hydrothermal systems _________ tend to flow steadily, whereas ________ flow episodically.

A) meteoric waters; hot springs
B) geysers; meteoric waters
C) hot springs; geysers
D) geysers; hot springs

Question 40

In general, how does the abundance of dissolved constituents in groundwater change with increasing depth inside the crust?

A) The abundance of dissolved constituents increases.
B) The abundance of dissolved constituents decreases.
C) The abundance of dissolved constituents remains constant.

Question 41

Which of the following is not a benefit of hydrothermal waters?

A) formation of metal ores
B) contribution to societal water supply
C) generation of electricity
D) human recreation

Question 42

Which of the following is considered meteoric water?

A) magmatic water
B) hydrothermal water
C) rain water
D) seawater

Question 43

The deepest groundwater tends to flow the fastest.