Problem 1
The cemetery in this photo is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. As in other cemeteries in the area, all the burial plots here are aboveground. Based on what you have learned in this chapter, suggest a reason for this rather unusual practice.
Problem 2
Imagine a water molecule that is part of a groundwater system in an area of gently rolling hills in the eastern United States. Describe some possible paths the molecule might take through the hydrologic cycle if: a. It is pumped from the ground to irrigate a farm field. b. There is a long period of heavy rainfall. c. The water table in the vicinity of the molecule develops a steep cone of depression due to heavy pumping from a nearby well. Combine your understanding of the hydrologic cycle with your imagination and include possible short-term and long-term destinations and information about how the molecule gets to these places via evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. Remember to consider possible interactions with streams, lakes, groundwater, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
Problem 5
Why is groundwater from a deep sandstone aquifer often considered safer to drink than running river water?
Problem 6
Why is groundwater considered a nonrenewable resource even though it is naturally replenished?
Problem 8
This satellite image shows a portion of the desert in northern Saudi Arabia, a region known for its abundant sunshine, high temperatures, and meager rainfall. The green circles are agricultural fields that are about 1 kilometer \((0.62\) mile \()\) in diameter. Water for irrigation is pumped from deep aquifers and distributed around a center point within each field-a technique known as center pivot irrigation. The deep aquifers contain water that dates to the Ice Age about 20,000 years ago, a time when the climate in this region was wetter and milder. a. Is it likely that agricultural activity in this region is sustainable indefinitely? Explain. b. A significant portion of the water placed on these fields is "lost" (not available to the crops). Suggest a reason for the loss of water. c. Relate what is likely occurring to the water table in the region pictured here to an example of a similar situation in the United States.
