I have 2 simple Biology lab files needed done for this week. I have attached the files.

Name_____________________________________________

Online Groundwater Lab

What is groundwater?

Groundwater is water found underground (bet you never would have guessed that!). It can move underground through cracks and crevices, around rocks and through spaces in soil particles. Groundwater moves VERY slowly. Eventually it will make its way to the surface and become surface water.

Image from Groundwater.org

The water table is where groundwater starts. Water saturates the water table so it is known as the saturated zone. Above the saturated zone is the unsaturated zone because water does not saturate that area. The water table can move (raises or lowers) depending on how much precipitation the area is receiving. When there is very little precipitation, the water table is lower. When there is lots of precipitation, the water table is higher so there is more groundwater.

Importance of Groundwater

Groundwater supplies the majority of people with drinking water so it is essential for our survival. It also helps recharge lakes, rivers, and streams, which means that it adds water to them.

Groundwater Contamination

Since groundwater is so important for our survival, contamination is extremely detrimental. It can be contaminated by many different pollutants, which can make the groundwater undrinkable.

Questions to Answer:

Go to the following website:

https://www.groundwater.org/get-informed/groundwater/

Click on Groundwater Contamination

Read the information and state three possible sources that can contaminate groundwater.

1.

2.

3.

Go back to this page: https://www.groundwater.org/get-informed/groundwater/

Click on Quick Facts on the left hand side

Using that information answer the following questions:

What use withdraws the most total groundwater per day? _____________________________

What percentage of rainfall in the U.S. becomes groundwater?

Procedure

1. Now go to the following website:

https://authoring.concord.org/sequences/98/activities/438/ded46f71-e660-4f71-883b-e6fcc70ff6bf

1. Click on BEGIN ACTIVITY

The Title is GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER

1. Read the information and select STREAM A.

2. Run the model for AT LEAST 6 YEARS. Click the play button (forward arrow) to start the model.

Answer the Question: Describe the outcome of Experiment 1: Stream A.

How did the groundwater move?

1. Now select STREAM B. Run the model for AT LEAST 6 YEARS. Click the play button to start the model.

Answer the Question: Describe the outcome of Experiment 2: Stream B.

How did the groundwater move?

Answer the Question: What accounts for the difference between Stream A and Stream B?

(you do not need to answer the questions in the website, just on this document.)

1. Once you have answered the questions, click next.

2. Read The Water Table and Groundwater Flow

Answer the Question: How could putting wells near a stream affect the flow of water in the stream?

1. Click next. Read Vernal Pools.

Answer the Question: What does vernal mean? (you have to look it up)

Answer the Question: What likely happened to the level of the water table between spring and summer to the vernal pools in the picture?

1. Click Next. Read Human Impact on Groundwater.

Now you want to determine the best place to put a well around a stream gaining groundwater to maintain the water level in the stream.

1. For the first experiment, you will add two wells near the stream. Do this by clicking the Add well button and then move your cursor to where you want to drill a well. Place the cursor at the land surface and click to start drilling. Click and hold until the well reaches the proper depth to access the stream.

Look at the graphs. The upper graph (Water Level) shows water level in the stream. The lower graph (Well Output) shows the water output of the different wells.

1. Run the model for at least 6 years. Click the Play Button to run the first experiment.

Sketch or use Excel or attach screenshots to show the two graphs below. (notice your Well Output graph has two lines, one for each of your wells).

Water Level Graph

Well Output Graph

1. Now remove the wells and do your second experiment by adding wells far from the stream. Click the play button to run this experiment and let it run for at least 6 years.

Sketch or use Excel or attach screenshots to show the two graphs below.

Water Level Graph

Well Output Graph

Answer the question: Where should pumps be placed around a gaining stream (stream in an area with a high water table) to ensure a good flow of water from the wells and maintain flow in the stream?

1. Click Next and read What happened to the water?

Answer the question: Identify elements of this system that contributed to the drying up of the Santa Cruz River.

1. Click Next and SKIP THE POPULATION GROWTH ACTIVITY.

1. Click Next

1. Click Start Next Activity (Using Groundwater Wisely)

1. Click Begin Activity

1. Read Recharge Rates

Answer the question: What types of sediment/rock will allow for the fastest recharge of aquifers?

1. Click Next and read Runoff or infiltration?

Answer the question: Similar amounts of precipitation fall in urban and non-urban areas.

Why is a river in an urban area more likely than a non-urban river to flood during heavy rains and dry up during dry periods?