The rate of ground water flow tends to decrease with depth because sedimentary rock pores tend to be closed by increasing amounts of cement and the weight of the overlying rock.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As sedimentary rocks are composed of smaller particles that can be easily compacted together, the pores within the rock tend to close up over time due to pressure from the weight of the overlying rock layers and the increasing amounts of cementation that occurs between the particles. As a result, the rate of groundwater flow decreases with depth as there are fewer and fewer interconnected spaces for the water to move through.

The Rate of Ground Water Flow Tends to Decrease with Depth