GL 107 Earth Systems Science

K. Hannula

Discussion questions for 10/22/07

1.  Define:

• zone of saturation

• water table

• aquifer

2.  What is porosity?  Which types of rocks and sediment commonly have high porosity?

3.  What is permeability?  Which types of rocks and sediment commonly have high permeability?

4.  Name two rocks or sediments that have high porosity but low permeability.

5.  What causes groundwater to flow?  (Be prepared to draw the direction of groundwater flow from a sketch of the groundwater table.)