ground water
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Water beneath the earth's surface: Ground water refers to water that is located below the ground surface, saturating soil pores and fractures in rock formations. It is a crucial component of the hydrologic cycle and a major source for wells and springs.
Usage
- Ground water is a vital natural resource for drinking and irrigation.
- The level of ground water can be affected by drought and over-pumping.
- Contaminants can seep into the soil and pollute ground water supplies.
Examples
- Noun:
- The community's primary source of drinking water is ground water from a deep aquifer.
- Agricultural chemicals can leach into and contaminate ground water.
- Scientists are studying the recharge rate of the local ground water.
Advanced Usage
- "Ground water recharge": The process by which water from precipitation or surface water percolates downward to replenish an aquifer.
- Conservation areas are important for ground water recharge.
- "Ground water flow": The movement of water through subsurface aquifers and soil.
- The model predicts the direction of ground water flow.
Variants and Related Words
- Aquifer (n): A body of permeable rock or sediment that can contain or transmit ground water.
- The Ogallala Aquifer is a major source of ground water in the United States.
- Water table (n): The upper surface of the zone of saturation where ground water pressure equals atmospheric pressure.
- The water table rises during the wet season.
Synonyms
- Subsurface water: Water existing below the ground surface.
- Phreatic water: A technical term for ground water, specifically water in the zone of saturation.
Related Phrases
- Ground water depletion: The reduction of ground water levels due to excessive extraction.
- Ground water depletion is a serious concern in many arid regions.
- Ground water quality: The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of ground water.
- Monitoring ground water quality is essential for public health.
Noun
- underground water that is held in the soil and in pervious rocks