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NATS 1003
Syllabus
Topic Outlines

Topics

13.1  What is groundwater?  

• Terms: groundwater; pore; porosity; permeability; gradient

• Question: How does water get into groundwater?

• Question: What factors affect how much water moves through the ground?

13.2  Water table  

• Question: Does the depth of the water table change? Why?

• Description: Where is the water table high and lower?

• Description: Where does the water table intersect with the surface?

• Term: Aquifer

• Question: Where do most of the cities in the metro area get their water?

13.3  Groundwater movement 

• Description: How does groundwater move?

• Terms: recharge; discharge

13.4  Springs and wells  

• Description: What happens at a spring?

• Terms: cone of depression; subsidence;

• What are the effects of wells on groundwater?

13.5  Geologic work of groundwater  

• Explanation: Why does a water table that moves up and down over time do more geologic work than a water table that remains at about the same level?

• Explanation: What are the two ways that sinkholes can form?

• Terms: cave; cavern; karst topography

Topic resources for students

Entire topic

• course lecture notes from Prof. Nelson

Links for further interest

Entire topic

• Intro BC  (video 2 min)
• Groundwater of Adelaide   (video 6 min)
• Future of groundwater in Cal   video 3 min
• Going out in the field and measuring groundwater--Wisconsin research   video 4 min
• Song  (4 min)

13.2  Water table

• Rising water table threatens ancient monuments in Egypt

13.4  Springs and wells

• Cone of depression--detailed description from the USGS
• Drilling wells because of the Tulare county Cal drought  video 3 min
• Springs videos
  --Bubbling spring in Wyoming  
  --Spring on a farm
  --New spring forms
  --PA
  --Lake Erie
  --collecting spring water
  --Ottawa
  --Boiling Springs near Shakopee
  --Sand Hill River

13.5  Geologic work of groundwater

• Niagara Cave, Harmony, Minnesota
• Mystery Cave, Forestville, MN
     --video
• Crystal Cave, Spring Valley, WI
• Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mounds, WI
     --video
• Ledge View Nature Center, Calumet County, WI
     --video
• Minnesota Cave Preserve
• Amateur caver videos
  --Kruger's cave
  --Milk truck caves St. Paul
  --Satan's cave mpls
  --Mankato