Lesson 3
Groundwater and Wetlands
Skim Lesson 3 in your book. Read the headings and look at the photos and illustrations. Identify three things you want to learn more about as you read the lesson. Record your ideas in your Science Journal.
Groundwater I found this on page
625
Organize information on groundwater. . Groundwater: water that lies
below ground
soil
Collects as water seeps through
and into
pores between sediment and rock
Some groundwater lies
.
Some groundwater lies
close to the surface .
hundreds of meters below
the surface
.
Groundwater can stay underground for long periods, but eventually it returns to the surface and reenters
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625
.
.
Identify four important facts about groundwater.
provides water to
roots
of plants
helps form
streams
lakes, and
wetlands
Groundwater
more plentiful than
surface water
188
Freshwater
used as a
water supply
,
Copyright Š Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
water cycle
the
Lesson 3 | Groundwater and Wetlands (continued)
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626
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Identify the underground zones associated with the water table. Draw a red line where the water table is located. Label the line “water table.” Then, explain the difference between the two zones.
Students should draw a red line between the unsaturated and saturated zones.
land surface
unsaturated
zone
saturated
zone
water table
The unsaturated zone lies near the surface. The pores within rocks and sediment in this zone are not completely filled with water. The saturated zone lies beneath the unsaturated zone. Here the pores are completely filled with water. The water table lies at the upper limit of the
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
saturated zone.
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626
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Compare porosity and permeability. Porosity
Permeability
a measure of a rock’s ability to hold water
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626
.
a measure of water’s ability to flow through rock and sediment
Summarize two facts about groundwater flow. flows
downhill and can join surface water
Groundwater is replaced as
surface water seeps into the ground Freshwater
189
Lesson 3 | Groundwater and Wetlands (continued)
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627
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Explain, in your own words, how wells and aquifers are related. Sample answer: An aquifer is an area of permeable underground sediment or rock that holds useful amounts of water. People dig wells to reach the water in an aquifer. The water flows into the well from the aquifer and is pumped to the surface.
Wetlands I found this on page
628
Organize information about 3 types of wetlands. Include at least .
three facts about each type.
Sample answers are shown.
Bogs
form in wet, cool climates; produce peat; water comes from runoff ; acidic and nutrient poor
Swamps
form in warmer, drier climates; can temporarily dry out; water comes from runoff and precipitation; soil is slightly acidic and nutrient rich
190
Freshwater
Marshes
form in warmer, drier climates; can temporarily dry out; water comes from runoff and precipitation; soil is slightly acidic and nutrient rich
Copyright Š Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Wetlands
Lesson 3 | Groundwater and Wetlands (continued)
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629
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Summarize why wetlands are important. Function
Copyright Š Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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630
.
What Wetlands Do
Habitat
provide food and shelter for newly hatched and young animals; important rest stop for migrating animals
Flood control
reduce flooding because they store large amounts of water
Erosion control
reduce the energy of large waves and storm surges
Filtration
prevent sediments and pollutants from reaching streams, lakes, groundwater, or oceans; absorb excess nitrogen by means of wetland plants and bacteria; help remove toxic metals and other pollutants from the water
Identify three effects of wetland destruction. Cause
Effects 1. rising sea level
Wetlands are drained and filled with soil for roads, buildings, and other uses.
2. coastal erosion 3. introduction of non-native
species A developer wants to build houses near a lake. Much of the ground is currently covered with a marsh. What would you tell the developer about filling in the marsh and building on it? Sample answer: I would explain that the marshy area is important to the environment. It is a habitat for many organisms and a filtration system for pollution. Marshes help reduce the risk of flooding and reduce the amount of erosion. I would then encourage the developer to build homes away from the marsh, perhaps on a hill overlooking the lake, so that the homeowners could take advantage of the view.
Freshwater
191