While most adults will understand the topics discussed within this blog site, we’ve listed a few of the terms that will be discussed periodically and what each of them means in laymen’s terms so that students can use the site as a resource as well.
GROUNDWATER
Water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers.
SURFACE RUN-OFF
Water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface. Surface run-off is a major component of the water cycle. This is how the water in an aquifer is replenished.
OVERLAND FLOW
Surface runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel.
WATERSHED
A land area which produces runoff draining to a common point.
AQUIFERS
Underground layers of permeable rock, sediment (usually sand or gravel), or soil that yields water. The pore spaces in aquifers are filled with water and are interconnected, so that water flows through them. Sandstones, unconsolidated gravels, and porous limestones make the best aquifers. They can range from a few square kilometers to thousands of square kilometers in size.
WELL
Basically, a well is a hole drilled into the ground to access water contained in an aquifer. A pipe and a pump are used to pull water out of the ground, and a screen filters out unwanted particles that could clog the pipe. Wells come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the type of material the well is drilled into and how much water is being pumped out.
DROUGHT
Iis an extended period when a region receives a deficiency in its water supply, whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. Texas has been in severe drought conditions since October 2010.
