259
Companion Website
G I V E I T S O M E T H O U G H T
Imagine a water molecule that is part of a groundwater system in an
area of gently rolling hills in the eastern United States. Describe
some possible paths the molecule might take through the hydrologic cycle if:
a. it were pumped from the ground to irrigate a farm field.
b. there was a long period of heavy rainfall.
c. the water table in the vicinity of the molecule developed a steep
cone of depression due to heavy pumping from a nearby well.
Combine your understanding of the hydrologic cycle with your
imagination and include possible short-term and long-term destinations and information as to how the molecule gets to these places
via evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. Remember to consider possible interactions with
streams, lakes, groundwater, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
Identify a location in the United States where you might find (a) a
gaining stream, and (b) a losing stream. Why did you choose each
location? Describe a situation that would cause a gaining stream to
become a losing stream. Also describe a situation in which a losing
stream becomes a gaining stream.
Which one of the three basic rock types (igneous, sedimentary, or
metamorphic) has the greatest likelihood of being a good aquifer?
Why?
During a trip to the grocery store, your friend wants to buy some
bottled water. Some brands promote the fact that their product is
artesian. Other brands boast that their water comes from a spring.
Your friend asks, “Is artesian water or spring water necessarily better
than water from other sources?” How would you answer?
What is the likely difference between an intermittent stream (one
that flows off and on) and a stream that flows all the time, even
during extended dry periods?
5
4
3
2
1
Imagine you are an environmental scientist who has been hired to
solve a groundwater contamination problem. Several homeowners
have noticed that their well water has a funny smell and taste. Some
think the contamination is coming from a landfill, but others believe
it might be the cattle feedlot or a nearby chemical plant. Your first
step was to gather data from wells in the area and prepare the map
of the water table shown here.
a. Based on your map, can any of the three potential sources of
contamination be eliminated? If so explain.
b. What other steps would you take to determine the source of the
contamination?
An acquaintance is considering purchasing a large tract of productive irrigated farmland in West Texas. His intention is to continue
growing crops on the land for years to come. If he asked your
opinion about the area he selected, what figure in this chapter
would you consult before you responded? How would this figure
help your friend evaluate his potential purchase?
7
6
Companion Website
www.mygeoscienceplace.com
The Essentials of Geology, 11e companion Website contains numerous multimedia resources accompanied by assessments
to aid in your study of the topics in this chapter. The use of this site's learning tools will help improve your understanding
of geology. Utilizing the access code that accompanies this text, visit www.mygeoscienceplace.com in order to:
• Review key chapter concepts.
• Read with links to the Pearson eText and to chapter-specific web resources.
• Visualize and comprehend challenging topics using the learning activities in GEODe: Essentials of Geology and the
Geoscience Animations Library.
• Test yourself with online quizzes.
Companion Website
G I V E I T S O M E T H O U G H T
Imagine a water molecule that is part of a groundwater system in an
area of gently rolling hills in the eastern United States. Describe
some possible paths the molecule might take through the hydrologic cycle if:
a. it were pumped from the ground to irrigate a farm field.
b. there was a long period of heavy rainfall.
c. the water table in the vicinity of the molecule developed a steep
cone of depression due to heavy pumping from a nearby well.
Combine your understanding of the hydrologic cycle with your
imagination and include possible short-term and long-term destinations and information as to how the molecule gets to these places
via evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. Remember to consider possible interactions with
streams, lakes, groundwater, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
Identify a location in the United States where you might find (a) a
gaining stream, and (b) a losing stream. Why did you choose each
location? Describe a situation that would cause a gaining stream to
become a losing stream. Also describe a situation in which a losing
stream becomes a gaining stream.
Which one of the three basic rock types (igneous, sedimentary, or
metamorphic) has the greatest likelihood of being a good aquifer?
Why?
During a trip to the grocery store, your friend wants to buy some
bottled water. Some brands promote the fact that their product is
artesian. Other brands boast that their water comes from a spring.
Your friend asks, “Is artesian water or spring water necessarily better
than water from other sources?” How would you answer?
What is the likely difference between an intermittent stream (one
that flows off and on) and a stream that flows all the time, even
during extended dry periods?
5
4
3
2
1
Imagine you are an environmental scientist who has been hired to
solve a groundwater contamination problem. Several homeowners
have noticed that their well water has a funny smell and taste. Some
think the contamination is coming from a landfill, but others believe
it might be the cattle feedlot or a nearby chemical plant. Your first
step was to gather data from wells in the area and prepare the map
of the water table shown here.
a. Based on your map, can any of the three potential sources of
contamination be eliminated? If so explain.
b. What other steps would you take to determine the source of the
contamination?
An acquaintance is considering purchasing a large tract of productive irrigated farmland in West Texas. His intention is to continue
growing crops on the land for years to come. If he asked your
opinion about the area he selected, what figure in this chapter
would you consult before you responded? How would this figure
help your friend evaluate his potential purchase?
7
6
Companion Website
www.mygeoscienceplace.com
The Essentials of Geology, 11e companion Website contains numerous multimedia resources accompanied by assessments
to aid in your study of the topics in this chapter. The use of this site's learning tools will help improve your understanding
of geology. Utilizing the access code that accompanies this text, visit www.mygeoscienceplace.com in order to:
• Review key chapter concepts.
• Read with links to the Pearson eText and to chapter-specific web resources.
• Visualize and comprehend challenging topics using the learning activities in GEODe: Essentials of Geology and the
Geoscience Animations Library.
• Test yourself with online quizzes.