aquifer

aquifer
/ak"weuh feuhr/, n.
any geological formation containing or conducting ground water, esp. one that supplies the water for wells, springs, etc.
[1900-05; prob. < F aquifère (adj.); see AQUI-, -FER]

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In hydrology, a rock layer or sequence that contains water and releases it in appreciable amounts.

The rocks contain water-filled pores that, when connected, allow water to flow through their matrix. A confined aquifer is overlain by a rock layer that does not transmit water in any appreciable amount or that is impermeable. There probably are few truly confined aquifers. In an unconfined aquifer the upper surface (water table) is open to the atmosphere through permeable overlying material. An aquifer also may be called a water-bearing stratum, lens, or zone.

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      in hydrology, rock layer that contains water and releases it in appreciable amounts. The rock contains water-filled pore spaces, and, when the spaces are connected, the water is able to flow through the matrix of the rock. An aquifer also may be called a water-bearing stratum, lens, or zone.

      A confined aquifer is a water-bearing stratum that is confined or overlain by a rock layer that does not transmit water in any appreciable amount or that is impermeable. There probably are few truly confined aquifers, because tests have shown that the confining strata, or layers, although they do not readily transmit water, over a period of time contribute large quantities of water by slow leakage to supplement production from the principal aquifer.

      A groundwater aquifer is said to be unconfined when its upper surface (water table) is open to the atmosphere through permeable material. As opposed to a confined aquifer, the water table in an unconfined aquifer system has no overlying impervious rock layer to separate it from the atmosphere.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • aquifer — n. 1. an underground bed or layer yielding ground water for wells and springs etc.; as, the Oglala aquifer. The water contained in an aquifer may be of great age, and in such cases is sometimes called {fossil water}. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Aquifer —   [lateinisch, eigentlich »Wasserträger«] der, internationale Fachbezeichnung für einen Grundwasserleiter, d. h. eine Gesteinsschicht, die Grund oder Mineralwasser enthält und geeignet ist, es weiterzuleiten. * * * Aqui|fer, der; s, e [zu lat.… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • aquifer — (n.) 1897, coined from L. aqui , comb. form of aqua water (see AQUA (Cf. aqua )) + fer bearing, from ferre to bear (see INFER (Cf. infer)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • aquifer — ► NOUN ▪ a body of rock that holds water or through which water flows …   English terms dictionary

  • aquifer — ☆ aquifer [ak′wə fər, äk′wə fər ] n. [ModL: see AQUA & FER] an underground layer of porous rock, sand, etc. containing water, into which wells can be sunk aquiferous [ə kwif′ər əs] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Aquifer — Typical aquifer cross section An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow… …   Wikipedia

  • Aquifer — Ein Grundwasserleiter (auch Aquifer) ehemals auch als Grundwasserhorizont oder Grundwasserträger bezeichnet, ist ein Gesteinskörper mit Hohlräumen, der zur Leitung von Grundwasser geeignet ist. Eine weite Verbreitung hat inzwischen auch der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • aquifer — UK [ˈækwɪfə(r)] / US [ˈækwəfər] noun [countable] Word forms aquifer : singular aquifer plural aquifers science a layer of earth or rock that contains water or that water can pass through …   English dictionary

  • aquifer — noun An underground layer of water bearing porous stone, earth, or gravel The water from the well came from an aquifer …   Wiktionary

  • Aquifer — Aqui|fer der; s <aus lat. aquifer, eigtl. »Wasserträger«, zu aqua »Wasser« u. ferre »tragen«> Grund od. Mineralwasser enthaltende Erdschicht (Geol.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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