Groundwater

Humboldt State University Department of Geology

Because of copyright restrictions, these slide and overhead transparency files are password protected and limited to use by students enrolled in Geology classes at Humboldt State University

Lecture Slides: Groundwater

Groundwater Hydrology

Hydrologic cycle -- diagram of the hydrologic cycle showing volumes of daily circulation for the U.S.
Infiltration and water table -- diagram
Some factors affecting water yield -- diagram
Groundwater flow paths -- diagram
Groundwater flow paths and travel time -- diagram
Confined (artesian) aquifer -- diagram
Natural artesian well -- Montana
Origin of springs -- diagram
Contact spring
Influent (losing) stream -- Mojave R, Southern California

Effects of Groundwater Extraction

Cone of depression -- diagram showing drawdown of water table on pumping
Saltwater intrusion -- diagram showing effects of excessive pumping near coastline
Groundwater overdraft -- diagram showing drying effect on Florida's Everglades
Subsidence fissure -- due to overextraction of groundwater, Arizona
Subsidence of church -- Mexico City
Differential subsidence -- Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
Artificial recharge -- streamflow during storms is diverted into infiltration ponds to recharge water table

Groundwater Pollution

Sources of groundwater pollution -- diagram
Septic tank pollution -- diagram
Acceptable sites for unengineered landfills -- diagram
Unacceptable sites for unengineered landfills -- diagram
Engineered landfill -- diagram

Groundwater Solution Effects in Limestone Terrain

Solution rills in limestone -- Nevada
Joints and small pits enlarged by solution -- Inishmore, Ireland
Joints enlarged by solution -- Inishmore, Ireland
Cave formation -- diagram
Limestone cave -- Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Karst features diagram -- diagram showing features of a solution-dominated (karst) landscape
Disappearing stream -- karst topography: stream disappearing into sinkhole
Sinkholes above caves -- Colorado
Sinkhole -- sacred well of Chichen Itza, Mexico: a large sinkhole in limestone
Winters Park sinkhole -- this sinkhole swallowed up a car dealership in 1981. Winters Park, Florida
Karst topography -- sinkholes near Bowling Green, Kentucky
Karst topography -- cone karst near Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Karst topography -- tower karst, Guilin, China
Karst topography -- tower karst, near Guilin, China
Karst topography -- topographic map showing solutional topography

[top of page] [hydrology and runoff generation]

Andre Lehre
Last updated: 4 October 2002

HSU Home Page

Geology Home Page

Geology 350 Home Page

Geology 350 Topic Index