Question

Removal of groundwater from aquifers may cause a. pollution. b. subsidence. c. mineral depletion. d. soil erosion. e. All of the above are correct.

Short answer

b. Removal of groundwater from aquifers may cause subsidence.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the terms

To answer this question, it is crucial to understand some key terms: - Groundwater: Water that is found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. - Aquifers: A body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater. - Pollution: The contamination of water, air, or soil with harmful substances. - Subsidence: The gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land. - Mineral depletion: The exhaustion of naturally occurring mineral reserves as a result of human activities. - Soil erosion: The wearing away of topsoil by water, wind, or other natural agents.

Analyzing each option

We'll go through each option and analyze its relationship to the removal of groundwater from aquifers. a. Pollution: Removal of groundwater from aquifers can cause pollution if chemical contaminants or other hazardous substances are pumped with water, or if the soil collapses and mixes with the groundwater. However, groundwater removal is not inherently polluting. b. Subsidence: Over-extraction of groundwater can cause subsidence because removing the groundwater leaves empty spaces in the soil and rock that can no longer support the weight of the land above it. This option seems plausible. c. Mineral Depletion: The removal of groundwater from aquifers may cause some minerals to be extracted with the water, but it is not the primary cause of mineral depletion. In general, mineral depletion is caused by mining and other resource extraction activities. This option is less likely. d. Soil erosion: Removing groundwater can lead to soil erosion by reducing the moisture content of the soil, making it more susceptible to erosion by wind and water. However, this is a less direct effect compared to subsidence. Based on this analysis, option b (subsidence) seems to be the most direct and significant consequence of removing groundwater from aquifers. We should now consider option e (All of the above are correct) to determine if all the options are plausible.

Evaluating the final option

Option e states that all of the above options (a-d) are correct. Since we've identified that option b is the most direct consequence, and options a, c, and d are somewhat related to groundwater removal but not as direct as option b, it seems more accurate to choose option b (subsidence) as the primary consequence of removing groundwater from aquifers. Therefore, we will select option b as the most suitable answer.

Final Answer

The answer is: b. Removal of groundwater from aquifers may cause subsidence.