Transcript Aquifers And The geology of Florida`s Springs
Slide 1
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 2
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 3
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 4
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 5
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 6
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 7
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 8
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 2
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 3
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 4
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 5
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 6
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 7
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.
Slide 8
And the geology of Florida’s springs.
Aquifers
•
We know that clean, fresh water is
essential for life. Although 75% of the
Earth’s surface is covered by water,
only 3% of that is fresh water. It just so
happens that a large percentage of
the world’s fresh water supply is stored
below ground in what we call
aquifers.
•
An aquifer is an underground,
saturated layer of porous rock (usually
limestone) or unconsolidated material
like gravel or sand. Think of it as a big
underground sponge.
•
An aquifer temporarily stores ground
water that has percolated down
through the soil and rock. You can
also think of an aquifer as a big water
filter. As groundwater moves through
the rock or sand, it is strained of
impurities just like your water filter at
home.
Floridan
Aquifer
•In Florida, most of the water we
consume comes from one of two
aquifers.
•The Floridan Aquifer is one of the
world’s most productive, and the
largest and oldest aquifer in the
southeastern United States. It runs
from the southern part of South
Carolina to the tip of Florida.
• It consists mostly of limestone rock.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock
primarily made up of the skeletal
remains of ancient marine organisms
such as coral. In some parts of the
Floridan Aquifer, the limestone is 3000
feet thick. Think about the vast
amount of geologic time it would
take for this layer to develop, and
what Florida might have looked like
before!
Biscayne
Aquifer
•In South Florida, we get most of
our drinking water from the
Biscayne Aquifer.
•The Biscayne Aquifer actually sits
on top of the Floridan Aquifer in
the southern part of the state.
• It is a shallow aquifer made of
highly permeable limestone, sand
and shells. Because it is shallow, it is
very vulnerable to human activity.
Pollutants and agricultural run-off
percolate into the Biscayne
Aquifer very quickly. Also, there is
great concern that humans are
drawing water out of the aquifer
faster than it can be replaced.
Biscayne
Aquifer
• Because the Biscayne Aquifer
actually merges with the floor of
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, saltwater can actually
percolate into the aquifer to
replace the diminishing
freshwater. This is called
saltwater intrusion, and it is bad
news for the freshwater supply.
• Luckily water is a renewable
resource. But problems occur
when our demand for water outpaces the ability of the water
cycle to replenish our aquifers.
Karst Topography
•
Karst Topography is a term used to describe
geological formations caused by the
dissolving of soluble rock.
•
Karst Topography is usually characterized by
sinkholes at the Earth’s surface and
underground caves carved out by
groundwater. Typically, the bedrock in a
Karst region is limestone. This is because
limestone tends to be really soluble
(dissolves easily). In central and north
Florida, an example of Karst topography is
seen in the vast network of sink holes, springs
and underground caves and rivers. In
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, there is a
similar landscape which is pock-marked with
sinkholes, also called Cenotes.
•
Karst topography occurs over time when
lightly acidic groundwater dissolves the
surrounding bedrock. As rain, water picks up
CO2 in the atmosphere. As groundwater, it
picks up even more CO2 from the soil or
submerged leaves and other organic
material. This dissolved CO2 creates a weak
carbonic acid solution which dissolves
calcium carbonate - the main ingredient of
limestone.
Artesian
Springs
•Florida has over 700 springs. Combined,
they release more than 8 billion gallons
of freshwater each day, which makes
Florida’s spring system the most
productive in the world.
• An artesian spring is constantly
discharging water that is under pressure.
Sometimes the force of the rushing
water is so great the surface of the
spring appears to be boiling. This is why
the mouth of a spring is often referred to
as a spring “boil.”
•An artesian spring exists because of
high subsurface water pressure, also
called hydrostatic pressure. There are
two factors that contribute to high
hydrostatic pressure: First, the aquifer
must be confined by an upper layer of
low permeability such as clay. Second,
the opening of the spring must be at a
lower elevation than the water table.
Show what you know!
1. Karst topography occurs most often in areas of
A
B
C
D
Limestone rock
Granite rock
Lava rock
Basalt rock
2. Limestone rock is made up of the skeletal remains of
ancient marine organisms (True/False).
3. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the newest and smallest
aquifers in the continental U.S. (True/False).
4. In an artesian spring, the water flows out under pressure
(True/False).
5. A porous, water-bearing layer of rock or sand is called an
________________.