Deck 13: Water Resources

Question 1

Water pressure is generally greater in a confined aquifer than in an unconfined aquifer.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

If water is so abundant on Earth, why are water resources such a big concern?

A)Water resources are not necessarily where humans need them and when they need them.
B)Humans are not very adept at exploiting water resources, so many go unused.
C)Most of the water on earth is frozen in polar ice sheets.
D)Most of the water is caught up in the hydrologic cycle and is therefore not readily available.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Concerns over water resources focus on the lack of abundance of water on Earth.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of the following would likely serve as an aquitard?

A)gravel
B)sand
C)silt
D)fractured gneiss

Question 5

An artesian well is one that

A)contains water
B)emits water without pumping
C)is dry most of the year
D)is in a confined aquifer

Question 6

Vegetation decreases runoff by

A)reflecting only the green portion of sunlight
B)absorbing water into leaves
C)intercepting rainfall and slowing its fall to the ground
D)holding soil in place

Question 7

Surface water and groundwater are

A)completely separate systems
B)interconnected systems
C)effluent systems
D)offstream systems

Question 8

Why has water quality degraded in the Edwards aquifer?

A)The aquifer is recharged by rivers flowing into karst limestones.
B)The city of San Antonio lies in the recharge zone.
C)Pollution has entered the aquifer via springs in the San Marcos area.
D)The aquifer is confined in its southern part, and is easily contaminated in that area.

Question 9

Why is karst topography a concern for groundwater quality?

A)Waste disposed in karst areas can easily infiltrate into the ground.
B)Sinkholes form from collapsed caverns.
C)The limestone of karst systems dissolves into the water.
D)Caves tend to have high levels of carbon monoxide, which dissolves in the water.

Question 10

The boundary between drainage basins is called the

A)watershed
B)high point
C)basin split
D)drainage divide

Question 11

What factor has contributed to the drying up of streams and the intrusion of salty groundwater in the Long Island area?

A)overpumping of groundwater
B)overuse of surface water
C)diversion of saltwater into dry stream beds
D)injection of stream water to recharge groundwater

Question 12

The vadose zone differs from the groundwater zone in what way?

A)The Earth materials in the two zones are different.
B)The vadose zone is unsaturated, while the groundwater zone is saturated.
C)The vadose zone lies below the groundwater zone.
D)The vadose zone contains no water, while the groundwater zone does contain water.

Question 13

What is the dominant trend in water use in the United States?

A)use overall has increased dramatically over the last 20 years
B)water use peaked in 1980
C)irrigation uses have continually increased since the late 1890s
D)industrial use has skyrocketed since 1980

Question 14

Why is sediment yield an important consideration in a discussion of water supplies?

A)Sediment yield affects the amount of water that is available.
B)Water resources and sediment resources are closely intertwined.
C)Sediment is a common water pollutant.
D)Soil erosion restricts water flow to streams.

Question 15

The drainage density on clay soils is likely to have what relationship to the drainage density on gravel soils?

A)greater drainage density on clay soils
B)greater drainage density on gravel soils
C)equal drainage density, the soil type has no effect
D)greater drainage density on clay soils, but with fewer streams

Question 16

The velocity and depth of surface water flow influence the amount of soil or sediment the water can erode.

Question 17

The rate of groundwater flow is proportional to the

A)recharge and discharge
B)the hydraulic gradient and hydraulic conductivity
C)confinement of the aquifer
D)rate of pumping

Question 18

Runoff in areas of shale bedrock tends to be less that in areas of gravel because of the high porosity of shale.

Question 19

Groundwater mining is accomplished by

A)high discharge of water to streams
B)thorough exploration for groundwater resources
C)pumping that exceeds recharge
D)very clean miners

Question 20

The water table separates confined and unconfined aquifers.

Question 21

The ability of an Earth material to transmit water is called its ________.

Question 22

Water use in the United States increased exponentially from 1960 to 1995.

Question 23

Desalination is used only where alternative water sources are unavailable.

Question 24

Wetlands contribute to poor water quality and harm flood control.

Question 25

The global ________ involves the transfer of water between Earth's water reservoirs.

Question 26

Groundwater movement is proportional to porosity.

Question 27

A(n) ________ aquifer is largely isolated from the Earth's surface above it.

Question 28

________ are areas that are either inundated by water or in which the ground is saturated to shallow depths at least a few days in most years.

Question 29

Pumping of groundwater from a well creates a(n) ________ in the aquifer.

Question 30

Groundwater mining in the Ogallala aquifer is a function of the very small amount of water contained in the aquifer.

Question 31

A cone of depression forms when water is pumped from an unconfined aquifer, but not when water is pumped from a confined aquifer.

Question 32

A(n) ________ stream typically lies above the water table.

Question 33

A(n) ________ stream gains water from an aquifer.

Question 34

Hydroelectric water use is considered nonconsumptive.

Question 35

________ and thermoelectric generators are the primary consumptive users of fresh water.

Question 36

Drainage basins are separated by the ________.

Question 37

Groundwater in karst systems is very well protected from pollution.

Question 38

Water management in the Colorado River basin has implications both for human use of water and for river ecology in the Grand Canyon.

Question 39

The water management philosophy put forth by ________ focuses on natural variability in water resources.

Question 40

________ water use does not divert or remove water from its source.

Question 41

________ is related to the amount of water necessary to produce a product.

Question 42

________ proposed a new philosophy of water management, based on the acknowledgement that groundwater and surface water are subject to natural variations.