What does underground water do to rocks?

What does underground water do to rocks?

The dirt and rock in this unsaturated zone contain air and some water and support the vegetation on the Earth. The saturated zone below the water table has water that fills the tiny spaces (pores) between rock particles and the cracks (fractures) of the rocks.

What happens when water moves underground?

Underground, water doesn’t move much, but rather acts like a sponge, taking up spaces in between cracks in rocks and breaks in the soil. Water that moves into a natural storage area (called an aquifer) beneath the surface of the earth is referred to as groundwater.

How does water move through underground layers of soil and rock?

The water moves downward through empty spaces or cracks in the soil, sand, or rocks until it reaches a layer of rock through which water cannot easily move. The water then fills the empty spaces and cracks above that layer.

When rock is dissolved by water underground?

Ground dissolution occurs when water passing through soluble rocks produces underground cavities and cave systems. These cavities reduce support to the ground above and can cause localised collapse of the overlying rocks and deposits.

How does the groundwater move in different types of rock?

Groundwater flow occurs on a variety of scales. Local – Shallow flow occurs over short times and distances, whereas, deep long distance flow occurs over time scales of centuries. The rate at which groundwater moves through the saturated zone depends on the permeability of the rock and the hydraulic head.

How did water get underground?

How does the water get underground? The Earth’s surface is permeable, which means that it takes in water in like a sponge. Water gets into an aquifer from the land surface. Typically, precipitation falling onto the Earth’s surface soaks into the ground and flows down to the water table.

How does water dissolve rock?

When water (e.g. rainwater) mixes with carbon dioxide gas in the air or in air pockets in soil, a weak acid solution, called carbonic acid, is produced. When carbonic acid flows through the cracks of some rocks, it chemically reacts with the rock causing some of it to dissolve.

What is movement of water through rocks?

The two most important forces controlling water movement in rock are gravity and molecular attraction. Gravity causes water to infiltrate until it reaches impermeable zones where it is diverted laterally. If the pores in rocks and sediments are connected, gravity allows the water to move slowly through them.

What causes rocks to dissolve in the air?

Teaching and Learning Focus. When water (e.g. rainwater) mixes with carbon dioxide gas in the air or in air pockets in soil, a weak acid solution, called carbonic acid, is produced. When carbonic acid flows through the cracks of some rocks, it chemically reacts with the rock causing some of it to dissolve.

How does water affect the breakdown of rock?

In this investigation, students examine the effects of naturally formed acids on the breakdown of rock. When water (e.g. rainwater) mixes with carbon dioxide gas in the air or in air pockets in soil, a weak acid solution, called carbonic acid, is produced.

How does water move through the ground after a storm?

As happens with water below ground, it started moving along underground layers of soil and rock that are porous enough to allow water to move through it. After a storm, water doesn’t move straight down into the ground, but, rather, it moves both downward and horizontally along permeable layers.

How does chemical weathering help to break down rock?

Teaching and Learning Focus. Chemical weathering is the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes. The most common agents of chemical weathering include water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and living organisms. Chemical weathering creates holes or soft spots in rock, so the rock breaks apart more easily.